A PERVERT who persistently sexually abused a frightened schoolgirl also looked at child porn of youngsters the same age, a court was told.

Simon Gamage, 39, who struck over three-and-half years, touched his victim inappropriately and made her touch him in the same way.

After Gamage was arrested last December, police found 11 indecent images of children at levels one and two on his computer. Level five is the most serious, Burnley Crown Court was told.

The defendant, of Sparth Road, Clayton-le-Moors, is now starting a two-year jail term after earlier admitting a total of 11 charges of sexual assault on a child or causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, at the crown court.

He had also been convicted on March 13 of two counts of possessing an indecent photo of a child and had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

He was made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and was ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, told the court the offences came to light when the girl, who had tried to block out what had happened, told someone at her school.

Gamage was arrested and interviewed last December 6.

Mr Lamberty said after a long period of silence, when the defendant appeared to be upset and distressed, Gamage admitted touching the girl.

Further investigations led to his computer being seized and police found the 11 indecent images. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Newell told the defendant: “It was persistent.

“Not only were you sexually assaulting the girl, but you were also looking at images of under aged girls and that's a concerning feature for the future.”