A ‘DANGEROUS’ sex fiend who repeatedly raped a schoolgirl after grooming her has been jailed for 14 years and four months.

John Lowden, 31, also committed sex acts on the child, got her to carry out indecent acts on him and took pictures of her naked on his mobile phone, a court heard.

Lowden, who showed the victim vile child porn films which he kept on the phone, also encouraged a teenage boy to perform a sex act on the girl.

Burnley Crown Court was told the defendant tried to handcuff the youngster’s wrists and, she was to later tell the police, wanted to tie her to a bed and called her names. Lowden took several indecent photos of the girl and threatened to put them on YouTube.

Lowden was said to have been a drunk living in squalor at the time he was responsible for the ‘highly deviant’ behaviour.

The defendant, of Cleveland Street, Colne, admitted three charges of rape, sexual assault, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, taking an indecent photo of a child, three allegations of possessing an indecent picture of a child, causing a child to watch a sex act and intentionally assisting or encouraging an offence.

He was also given five years’ extended licence and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life. Lowden was given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and was banned from working with children.

Kevin Donnelly, prosecuting, said the girl told a friend at school what had happened to her, staff were informed and her mother then rang the police.

The victim was interviewed by officers and Lowden was arrested. Police had to force their way into his home as he refused to open the door. He had to be pepper-sprayed and was taken to the police station. The defendant was questioned and claimed he had never asked the girl to engage in any kind of sexual activity. He had no previous convictions.

Tim Storrie, defending, said: “He is utterly fatalistic. He knows he will be the subject of condine punishment."

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Woolman told Lowden there was an ‘element of sadistic treatment’ of the victim, who he had abused and damaged.

He added: “I have not the slightest doubt you do pose a significant risk of serious sexual harm.”