Description A cowardly sex offender who groomed a teenage girl has been put behind bars for 10 years. Thirty-two-year-old Thomas Todd befriended the victim and bought her presents before sexually assaulting her in 2017. The victim courageously spoke to police officers in May 2018 after telling her mother Todd had abused her. Todd refused to admit his offending to police and subjected the victim to a trial and lengthy court proceedings. He then failed to attend court for the final days of the trial and was tracked down by police in Scotland following a manhunt. Todd, of HMP Nottingham, was found guilty of sexual assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court. He was jailed for a total of 10 years when he appeared for sentencing on Friday (1 December). Todd’s offending began in the summer of 2017 when he started sending the victim messages asking her where she was and who she was with. She later told detectives he treated her like ‘his girlfriend’ even though he was aware of her age. He bought her gifts and sexually assaulted her when they were left alone.