Lancashire child sex attacker jailed

by Lauren Riley. Published Mon 30 Jan 2012 11:03, Last updated: 2012-01-30

Luke Shorrock, 23, was found guilty of attempted rape and sexual assualt

A man who sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl has been jailed for eight years.

Luke Shorrock, 23, of Hindle Street, Darwen, was found guilty of attempted rape and sexual assault last month after a week long trial.

Shorrock still denies the charges that he pulled the girl into a bathroom and assaulted her last August.

Shorrock, who cares for his disabled parents, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday and placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for life and banned from working with children indefinitely.

He must also not have unsupervised contact with children under 16 for ten years, under the Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Judge Graham Morrow, QC, said that it was clear he had been drinking and smoking cannabis and his intoxicated state had been a factor in the offences.

Officer in the case DC Jane Challenger said: “Shorrock is a predatory and dangerous man who deliberately targeted a vulnerable young girl.

“We have supported the girl and her family throughout what has been a very difficult time and I hope they will now be able to start to put this terrible ordeal behind them and move on with their lives.

“Whilst this type of crime is rare, it will not be tolerated and we will continue to do everything we can to target and prosecute offenders.”