April 2001 PERVERT JAILED FOR ATTACKS ON GIRLS A sex offender was jailed for 30 months for attacks on young girls. One-time antiques shop worker Michael Iley, 43, was locked up at Teesside Crown Court despite a defence plea that he had spent three years on a community rehabilitation order. The judge, The Honourable Mr Justice Henriques told him: I do not accept these submissions. If I were to do so, I would fail in my public duty. Instead Iley was given concurrent 30-month sentences on each of eight charges against him. Iley, formerly of Friar Street in Shotton Colliery, but lately living at a Teesside bail hostel, must also register as a sex offender as soon as he is released from jail. He had already pleaded guilty to seven offences of indecent assault and one of gross indecency at an earlier hearing. The court heard that he committed the offence against his first victim when he started kissing her on the mouth and then began indecent behaviour against her. She later told police she had tried to block the ordeal from her mind. Iley committed offences against his second victim some time later when he said nothing but put his hands underneath the girl s clothing. Prosecutor Michael O Neill said she told cops she was confused by what was happening to her. The third girl was indecently attacked at around the same time as the second victim. She told police: I was upset by what happened. Two of the three victims had not yet reached their teenage years when Iley committed his crimes, the court heard. But Mr O Neill admitted Iley had entered his guilty pleas at the earliest possible opportunity to avoid his victims having to come to court to give evidence Jane Waugh defending, said Iley had already been receiving treatment from a community psychiatric nurse and was making good progress. A probation report into his behaviour showed he was keen to change his ways and part of his background showed he had been sexual abused as a child by an older man, the court heard. Mr Waugh said: Here it would seem is a man who wants to be treated and can be treated. Mr Iley is not perhaps a classic paedophile. He is not aroused sexually by children. She said a lot of his behaviour was from a man who was craving affection. But the judge told him: It has been pointed out that you could attend a sex offenders treatment programme and continue to attend sessions with the psychiatric nurse. I am not able to accept these submissions. This is criminal conduct which can only be properly dealt with by way of prison, principally to punish your wrongdoing.