November 2014 Married Liverpool man jailed for grooming and abusing 13-year-old girl A married man who groomed and abused a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for seven years. Ian Croston, 49, bombarded his schoolgirl victim with thousands of texts, as he organised secret meetings – at his mother’s graveside. Croston was found guilty of three charges of sexual activity with a child after a three day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The jury heard heard how Croston, from south Liverpool, had taken advantage of the victim. Nicholas Walker, prosecuting, said: “Mr Croston drew her into him and she became infatuated. While she knew he was 47, she said he acted more like he was 15.” The victim told police how Croston took her on secretive fishing trips, and recalled how she had cried in the toilet after he had sex with her. He even took her to his mother’s grave to kiss her in private. A victim impact statement told how she became “insular and depressed” after the abuse – which was only uncovered when her mother found messages from Croston on her phone. The family also spoke of their guilt over the abuse the young girl suffered, which has led to her struggling in school after the ordeal. Judge Thomas Teague, QC, said: “You cultivated an unhealthy relationship with a child and sexualised her. “The victim knew she was speaking the truth, and now the defendant admits it, too, it’s a period of custody you could have reduced if you had had the courage to admit your actions. “Now you have admitted that the victim was telling the truth all along, but it’s too late. “You clearly took advantage of her infatuation and not on just the three occasions you have admitted. “This was plainly a highly predative offence.” The pair exchanged an astonishing 9,000 text messages between late 2012 and June last year, including 433 on one single day. Mr Walker told the court: “He took advantage of her. But now she is doing well at school, she has been able to put it past her and look forward.” Croston will now be on the sex offenders’ register for life, and is banned from having any contact with a girl under 18. The victim’s family applauded as Judge Teague gave his sentence after the three-day trial.