December 2013 Paedophile sentenced to seven years for sexually abusing five-year-old girl A paedophile was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a five-year-old girl. Steven Harry Mullen, 44, of Tanfield, Skelmersdale was sentenced for the sexual assault at Liverpool Crown Court today, along with separate charges of downloading indecent images and videos of children. The two sexual assault charges related to incidents between May 1 and June 4 2004, while the five downloading charges, and one of possessing 500 images, related to June and November last year. Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, read from the girl’s parents’ victim impact statement. He said: “Other than losing a child this is the worst thing a parent can face.” Before passing sentence Judge Robert Warnock said he had taken into account the aggravating factors of the age of the child and the indecent images that were found. Judge Warnock said to Mullen that the lowest sentence he could give was seven years and six months for the two sexual assaults, to run concurrently. He added: “You obviously have a serious problem with regards to your sexual predilection, which you have denied and continue to deny even now. “It also is a breach of trust of those in your community who held you in high regard and that sits very heavily with this court. “I am taking into account your previous good character, a character that has now been thrown away.” Mr Michael Hagerty, defending, said: “There is no suggestion that between the abuse of the girl and the finding of the images there was any further abuse against children committed. “As a result of this case he has lost his livelihood and been forced to live in fear in the community. “It has also had a  impact on his family who continue to stand by him today.” Judge Warnock ordered that Mullen sign the sex offenders’ register for life and that the 500 images and the computer they were stored on be destroyed. Skelmersdale Paedophile facing jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 and downloading indecent images of children A MOTHER has spoken out after the paedophile who assaulted her daughter was told by a judge he faced fail. Steven Mullen was convicted of sexually assaulting the girl when she was just five-years-old along with separate charges of downloading indecent images and videos of children. The two sex assault charges related to incidents between May 1 and June 4, 2004. The five downloading charges and one of possessing 500 images related to June and November last year. Mullen, 44, of Tanfield, Skelmersdale was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court on November 28 and was remanded on bail to await sentence on December 19. The mum of his victim contacted the Advertiser to talk about her daughter’s ordeal. Mullen preyed on her daughter during a family holiday when she was just five years old. The mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “When I first found out about what he had done I couldn’t believe it. “He was a close family friend and we all trusted him, we never suspected him of anything like this. To think how he abused our trust sickens me. “My daughter didn’t tell anyone about the abuse she suffered for years and she’s been so brave throughout this whole ordeal. I’m very proud of her. “The police were fantastic and when they found the images on his computer it made us even more determined to make sure he was sent down. “I feel like justice has been done now he’s been found guilty, it means he can never do what he did to my daughter again. “I want the case to serve as encouragement to other victims in this position that the attacker can be brought to justice. “Our case just shows that even with historic sex abuse the perpetrator can still be brought to justice even after nine years. “I’d encourage any victims of abuse to tell someone what has happened, no one should have to suffer alone.” DC Graham Hunt, from West Lancashire CID has been involved with the case since it was brought to police by the family in December last year. He said: “I would like to pay tribute to the enormous bravery of the victim and the dignity shown by her and her family during the investigation and subsequent trial. “I am delighted that having listened carefully to all the evidence the jury unanimously found Mullen guilty of all of the vile offences that he had been charged with. “Lancashire Constabulary will always take allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously, no matter how long ago they were committed. “We would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse or who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge it will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity.”