Alan Wilson committed the “utterly despicable” offences, some of which he filmed, over the course of a few days last year.
Durham Crown Court heard that the 63-year-old defendant, who is of previous good character, has been assessed as posing a high risk of causing harm to children, but a lower risk to other people.
Wilson, of Hatfield Road, Newton Aycliffe, was arrested and charged with a total of 19 counts after his actions came to light.
(Image: Durham Constabulary) Appearing at a plea hearing at the court, in October, he admitted all the charges on the indictment.
These were nine counts of sexual assault, seven of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one of possessing indecent images of a child.
The images were classified as 13 in the second most serious category, B, and three in the less severe section, C.
Following the plea hearing, Wilson was granted bail, including a condition that he should not have contact with any child, pending sentence.
He appeared back before the court to be sentenced this week (w/c January 6), following the preparation of a background report on him, by the Probation Service.
Robin Turton, representing Wilson, said the defendant recognises, “he has done wrong”, but he questioned the probation report assessment of him being considered a “high risk” of causing harm to children.
Mr Turton said given the length of time the defendant would spend in prison, “it’s an area that can be worked on.”
He said that none of the offences were “sustained”, albeit it was a pattern of offending over a few days.
(Image: Durham Constabulary) Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC responded that it was, “difficult to imagine a worse example” of offending of that nature.
He told Mr Turton: “At the end of the day, your client has a sexual attraction to children.”
Mr Turton conceded: “It’s bad offending. I don’t want to suggest otherwise.
“I’m not suggesting this is anything other than serious.
“He knows he’s going to get a lengthy prison term.
“As bad as the offending is, it’s not penetrative offending.”
(Image: The Northern Echo) Addressing Wilson, Recorder Enoch told him they were, “despicable offences.”
The Recorder said: “It’s of great concern a man of your age and character should allow himself to succumb to systematic grooming and sexual assault on a young girl.
“Although there is no psychiatric assessment of the complainant, I have no doubt she will experience psychological consequences as a result of what you did, even if she did not understand what you were doing to her was wrong.”
Recorder Enoch imposed prison sentences totalling 12 years on the defendant.
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He told him he must serve at least two-thirds of that sentence before being entitled to be released on licence.
Wilson was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order, prohibiting contact or approaches to the complainant, for life.
He is also subject of indefinite notification requirements and registration as a sex offender.