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Jail for Blackpool sex pest
A DANGEROUS sexual predator who tried to lure schoolchildren into his car in Layton "in a bid to abuse them", has been jailed for six years.
Former Layton swimming teacher Stephen Tormey parked near to where he knew children were playing and watched porn on a portable DVD player while he tried to lure youngsters into the vehicle, a court was told.
The 36-year-old, of Layton Road, was found guilty after a trial at Preston Crown Court of three charges of attempting to detain a child and two of causing a child to look at sexual activity.
The court was told one of his victims, a 14-year-old girl, called the police after Tormey offered her a lift and she saw the DVD playing on his passenger seat.
Richard Haworth, prosecuting, told the court in June 2007 the teenager was walking in the Westmorland Avenue area of Blackpool with two friends when they saw a man parked up in a BMW watching porn.
A month later the victim was walking to a shop on Park Road when she spotted the same vehicle. Tormey asked her "do you need a lift? Get in the back if you do." She declined, but saw the portable DVD player.
Mr Haworth added that in October 2007, a 10-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl were in the Brunswick area, playing hide and seek. A BMW pulled up and Tormey spoke to the eight-year-old and invited the children into his car to watch the DVD player.
Tormey told the pair their mothers had been in accidents but both knew their mothers were at home and refused to get in the vehicle.
He was later arrested at home and police recovered children's DVDs – Transformers and The Simpsons – and pornography.
Sarah Booth, defending, said Tormey denied any involvement. He suffered depression and had made attempts on his life.
Sentencing Tormey at Burnley Crown Court, Judge Norman Wright, said the offences were planned.
Tormey is not allowed to have any child under 18 in his house or car unless the parent or guardian is present.
He is also on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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