SEX ATTACKER JAILED FOR GIRL ASSAULTS
A CONVICTED sex attacker has been jailed for a series of indecent assaults on a young girl.Martin Cunningham had claimed the incidents had never taken place and said he was shocked and upset when the girl's claims were put to him.
The 64-year-old was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison and was placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years when he appeared in court for sentencing.
Additionally, Cunningham has been questioned by police regarding another alleged sex offence since his trial last month.
The court heard that a woman came forward after his case was widely reported in newspapers.
Cunningham had denied five charges of indecent assault but was convicted following a trial last month, with sentencing postponed for reports.
The girl was about eight years old when the assaults occurred between January 2001 and July 2002, but it was not until she was 14 that she disclosed what had happened to her to her school.
The jury was told Cunningham would visit the girl's home in Witham where the assaults were carried out.
After his arrest, Cunningham told police he felt sad when confronted with the girl’s claims.
He expressed confusion, saying, "I can't understand why she's said this." The court also noted Cunningham's previous conviction for indecent assault on a 12-year-old girl in 1996.
Judge Christopher Ball QC indicated Cunningham deserved no credit as he caused the victim further distress by forcing her to testify in court.
Lynne Shirley, representing Cunningham, stated that the offences were opportunistic rather than planned.
