Sept 2009 Man abused girl as mum bought them take-away A PAEDOPHILE who sexually assaulted a young girl after conning her family into trusting him has been jailed for three years. Alan Norman, 71, of Pinmills, Pitsea, was caught abusing the five-year-old by her horrified mother at their home in Basildon in May. The mum popped out to pick up a take-away and left her little girl sitting on Norman’s knee, but returned to find him assaulting the youngster, Basildon Crown Court heard. Norman carried out the attack just three months after coming off a licence for similar offences against girls. The court heard the pensioner was jailed for two-and-a-half years in 2005 for sexually touching four children – two aged eight, one seven, the other four. Lesli Sternberg, prosecuting, said Norman had lied to the family about his previous convictions by telling them he was jailed for drugs. She said: “Her mother was unaware of his previous offences when she welcomed him into the family home.” Mitchell Cohen, mitigating, said Norman still had no clear recollection of the offence, but had pleaded guilty to spare the mother the ordeal of testifying. He said Norman suffers with a chronic lung disease and heart problems, but accepted he would have to continue his daily treatment in jail. Judge John Lodge said: “You got into a friendship with this family by lying about your previous offences and telling them they were drug related. This was the worst kind of deceit. “This offence is so serious only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.” Norman, who appeared in court via a video link from Belmarsh prison, pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally touching a girl in a sexual way at a hearing last month. He was told he would be released from jail on licence after service his sentence, and was issued with a sexual offences prevention order, which bars him from living or working with children, or going within 20m of any playground. After the hearing, the victim’s mother said she felt the sentence was too short, and believed Norman would reoffend following his release from prison.