April 2007 Jail for pervert A MAN who got a 14-year-old girl to perform a sex act upon him, after she went to his house to play computer games, has been jailed for 15 months. John Henderson was convicted of causing a child to engage in a sexual activity. Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard that he encouraged the youngster – who was suffering family difficulties – into bed in a moment of madness’. He was found guilty by a jury in February of the incident, which happened last year. The dad-of-four, who committed the crime at his family home in Sandgate Drive, Urmston, told the girl after the sex act: “That was the best fun I’ve had in years.” In mitigation defence counsel Charlotte Holland, said: “The pre-sentence report recommends a suspended sentence but I have no instructions from the defendant to put that forward. “He has always been a hard working family man, he has a number of children and is still extremely close to them. “He has lost his employment, effectively lost the majority of contact with one son he only sees four times a year – the situation is very different from how he brought up his other children. “His partner remains to support him. “It was effectively one moment of madness, with consequences for this man and his family. “His mother has a collapsed lung at the moment, she is on borrowed time and he won’t be with her when the time comes.” Sentencing, Judge Timothy Mort, said: “You offered her a shoulder to cry on, saying she could ask you for emotional support and help. “You became sexually aroused by her presence. Somewhat indecently, you said it was the best fun you’d had in years. “I think this was a moment of madness and see nothing to think it will happen again. “She is now trying to forget about this and get on with her life. “She was young enough to be your daughter. “The public will expect nothing less than a custodial sentence, that said, you haven’t been in trouble before. “There is a lot of good in you I have no doubt.” During his trial Henderson was acquitted of sexual activity with a child. He will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.