77-year-old sex offender jailed for grooming young girl

A sex offender who groomed and abused a teenage girl over a year-long period has been sentenced to jail. Tony Drewitt, aged 77, engaged in a prolonged grooming process with a young girl, who should have been able to enjoy her childhood. Police stated that Drewitt 'denied' the girl her youth. He pleaded guilty at a court hearing in January to two counts of sexual activity with a child. Some of the offending took place in the Oldham area. The victim was 13 when they met, and Drewitt was 69 at the time. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison by a judge at Manchester Crown Court. Drewitt, of Hazon Way in Epsom, Surrey, was also made to sign the sex offenders register for five years and has an indefinite restraining order against the victim. Police welcomed the conviction, with Detective Sergeant Andy Barrett of GMP's Oldham Safeguarding Hub praising the bravery of the victim and her family. The police statement highlighted the prolonged grooming and abuse, noting that Drewitt's actions 'denied her of her youth' and that the sentencing aims to bring some comfort to the victim and her family, encouraging others to come forward if they have experienced abuse.