Fleetwood child rapist who used his pet to lure youngster to his home is jailed for 19 years

Peter Coleman, 46, Beach Road, Fleetwood, was found guilty of committing a string of rapes on the youngster over a period when she was seven and eight years old, and multiple counts of causing her to engage in sexual activity.

The trial was previously told the girl had confided in her father one evening in June 2018 after realising what had happened to her was wrong, following sex education lessons at school.

Following his convictions the Gazette can now reveal materials relating to incest websites were found in his home when he was arrested, along with a piece of paper on which he had scrawled 'child abuse'.

Coleman had denied the offences throughout his trial.

Judge Philip Parry branded his offending a "campaign of rape and sexual abuse" and said he was an offender of particular concern.

Imposing a 19 year jail term, he said: " In short, over a two year period when you were in your mid to late 30s you raped her on an almost weekly basis.

"She was comfortable in your presence. To the outside world she visited because you had a pet and she liked to feed it but in reality you took that opportunity to repeatedly sexually abuse her in your bedroom.

"She thought that this was normal behaviour, so much was the trust she had in you.

"You groomed her and you abused her for your own selfish and perverted pleasures.

"You were a predator and you preyed on an innocent young girl."

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