October 2018: Both offenders now released April 2015 Mum warns girls about predators as sex attackers are jailed for 15 years A MOTHER whose daughter was nearly raped during a brutal attack by a total stranger has warned other young girls to take extra care when they are out. The woman, who could not be named for legal reasons, today urged other mothers to make sure their vulnerable children are aware of the risks of sexual predators who may target girls who look older than they are. She spoke out as her daughter’s attacker – Adrian Clifford, 34, of Suffolk Court, Grimsby – was jailed for eight years. His sentence came as another man – Stephen Pexman, 56, of Fairview Avenue, Cleethorpes – was jailed for seven years after being convicted of rape in a separate case. Clifford denied attempted rape on September 21 but was convicted by a jury after a trial. He was cleared at Grimsby Crown Court of three rape offences against a girl under the age of 16 He was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. The girl’s mother said: “My daughter has gone through a lot. I am happy for her that she has been proved not to be a liar. “She is still petrified of going out. I just feel like he is not going to be hurting anyone else and doing that to any other young family.” The woman added that her daughter lost her place in school as a result of the attack and turned to drugs as well as harming herself. “She tried to take her own life a few times,” said the mother. “She had turned to drugs but is off that altogether now. Now he has been sentenced, she seems to be going on the right track now, which I wanted, to be honest. “I don’t think she will ever get this out of her head. The man was a total stranger. Her friend took her down to where it happened in Grimsby. “She was high on drugs and alcohol. He gave her some beer and that’s how it happened. “It’s frightening that it was a total stranger. He had no right to do what he did. It was not right but he has got what he deserved. Justice has been served. “He deserves to be where he belongs. As a mother, I want girls to know who he is and, if they ever see him, not to go near him. “I am trying to think about other mums with young lasses who might look older than they are. Men target young lasses who look older than they are. Meanwhile, Pexman was beginning a seven-year jail term He denied rape between July 1 and August 31, 2013, but was found guilty by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court after a trial. He was also convicted of a separate offence of assault on September 19, 2014, and was given two months in prison concurrently. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.