January 2017 Paedophile receives second prison sentence for abusing girl A sailor who molested a young girl knowing he was being investigated for abusing another child has received his second prison sentence in a year. Lawrence Ireland, 65, is already behind bars for sexual abusing a schoolgirl while he was dressed in woman’s clothes. The former Navy man, coastguard and HGV driver was jailed again at Teesside Crown Court for sex crimes against a second girl. But a judge said the new three-year prison term would run alongside his existing sentence, not on top of it, saying a consecutive punishment would be too long. Ireland groomed, sexually assaulted and hurt an underage girl, trying to get her on her own and telling her it was “their little secret”. He continued to touch her even while being investigated for other sexual abuse, the court heard. The police told the girl’s mother of the other allegations, but she did not believe them and allowed him to have unsupervised contact with the girl, said prosecutor Rupert Doswell. The girl later told a friend what had happened to her. Ireland, formerly of Troutbeck Road, Redcar , was arrested and initially denied sexual wrongdoing. He later admitted seven sexual assault charges. The other case concluded in February last year when he was jailed for four years and 11 months after he admitted abusing the other girl. In that separate case, Ireland groomed the girl, tied her up and touched her while he dressed up in women’s clothes decades ago. He is now a “trusted prisoner” at HMP Northumberland, and one of 14 or 15 inmates allowed out to attend an Age UK seminar. Christine Egerton, defending, said: “He accepted responsibility for what happened. He is sorry for what he did. He pleaded guilty because he did those things which were wrong. “He is clearly a man who has a problem and his offending demonstrates that he does need help.” She said the most serious assault happened only once while the less serious offences were repeated. The judge, Recorder Ewan Duff, said the offences for which Ireland was already in prison were “even graver” than the latest crimes. He told Ireland: “This offending is aggravated by the fact that it was committed during the time that those earlier matters were under investigation. “You weren’t supposed to have unsupervised contact with children. “It is a matter of great regret that you were allowed unsupervised contact and continued this offending.” He jailed Ireland for three years, but decided not to make it consecutive to his current sentence. “That would be too great a term of imprisonment in respect of the totality of this offending, your previous record, your pleas of guilty and your age,” he added. “This sentence will begin today. “That may delay your release somewhat but not by an enormous amount. It will not prolong it hugely.” Ireland was given a sexual harm prevention order, a restraining order and will be on the sex offenders’ register, all indefinitely. February 2016 Cross-dressing former sailor jailed after abusing child Forty years after a cross-dressing sailor sexually abused a child he was finally jailed by Teesside’s most senior judge who told him: “You thought you had got away with it”. The victim who was ten when she was targeted by Lawrence Ireland from Redcar says that he ruined her life. She plucked up the courage to report him to Cleveland Police in November 2013 to protect others. Married Ireland protested his innocence, and he went on the run on the day of his trial adding to her agony. But he walked into a police station days later and back at Teesside Crown Court he pleaded guilty and he was jailed for four years and 11 months. Ireland was also given a Sexual Offence’s Prevention Order banning him from contact with youngsters under 16 and he will be on the Sex Offender’s Register for life. Prosecuter Shaun Dodds said that Ireland tied up the victim before molesting her. His wife discovered that he was a cross-dresser when she found he kept women’s clothing in the loft of their home. The victim said in an impact statement last month that when he failed to turn up for his trial she felt that he was still in control of her. She said: “He has ruined my life.” The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC told Ireland, a retired HGV driver: “You no doubt believed you had avoided prosecution, especially when your wife decided to take no action, having consulted her church. “She however (the victim) has not forgotten what you did to her. “She did not lead a full and happy life solely as a result of what you did to her. She has had a long time to suffer. “She is taking anti-depressants, dependant on alcohol. She has had difficulties in building up and firming relationships as a result of what you did to her.” He added: “There was a degree of planning here and a degree of grooming here.” Christine Egerton, defending, said that Ireland was remorseful and he told the author of the pre-sentence report that he was sorry. His marriage broke up at the end of last year because of his guilty pleas and he had lost contact with his children. Ireland, of Troutbeck Road, Redcar, pleaded guilty to six charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.