A SELF-CONFESSED paedophile who sexually abused a schoolgirl has been locked up for three years four months.

When the victim “blurted out” what had happened to her, the defendant went missing and was later found in a car trying to kill himself.

He told the person who found him: “You should have left me to die.”

Thomas Kelly, who was sentenced on his 60th birthday, struck while he was living in Whitworth, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Before he tried to kill himself he had texted his partner telling her: “I'm a paedophile and I can't live with myself. I am going to end it.”

The defendant, now of Summer Street, Shaw, Oldham, admitted four charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child. He had no previous convictions.

Kelly was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely, was banned from working with children and was given a sexual offences prevention order.

Katherine Pierpoint, prosecuting, said the victim did not tell anyone what was happening, felt there was nothing she could do and kept it to herself until this May this year, when she told her husband after she had had a drink.

The hearing was told when the defendant was questioned by police, he said he knew his actions had been wrong, but claimed the girl had not complained.

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