A PAEDOPHILE who raped a vulnerable teenage girl near a Blackburn school has been sent to prison.

‘Callous’ Michael McQueenie, 28, was jailed for 11 years and seven months for subjecting his 14-year-old victim to a terrifying ordeal.

He had pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and rape at an earlier hearing.

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The attack happened after the defendant, of Highbury Place, lured the youngster into a wooded area at the side of St James’ playing field.

He then asked her to remove her clothes before raping and sexually assaulting her.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Dean Holden, from Lancashire Police’s force major investigation team said: “This was a callous attack in which McQueenie preyed on a vulnerable young girl, enticing her to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her.”

McQueenie only stopped his attack when the girl’s father, who had gone out to look for her, came across them. He then ran off.

Police tracked him down thanks to information provided by residents living nearby.

Det Ch Insp Holden said: “We were able to trace him thanks to the assistance of members of the public who came forward as witnesses and also helped with identification and CCTV.

“I know that the victim’s family would also like to express their gratitude to those people too.

“Now that McQueenie has been put before the courts and brought to justice, I hope that the victim and her family are now able to move forward with their lives.”

McQueenie will also be subject to a lifelong Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and will also be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Cllr Hussain Akhtar, who represents the Shear Brow ward, said he believed the length of the sentence represented the seriousness of the attack.

He said: “It was a very terrible case and I am very satisfied with the sentence.

“People should not be allowed to do this to innocent people and when they do, justice must be done.

“This sentence shows to people what the punishment is for such a horrendous crime and will teach a lesson to other people.

“I know the family of this girl and they will be happy justice has been done. They were very upset when this happened.”