Man who abused girl, six, jailed indefinitely

The six-year-old victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was said to have changed from a carefree, innocent child into a self-conscious insecure girl who displayed attitudes beyond her years.

Prosecutor Peter Moulson told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that the complainant had lost her trust in adults, repeatedly cried and suffered nightmares after being subjected to the abuse by 41-year-old Huddersfield man Paul Shaw

Yesterday Shaw, of Elder Road, Bradley, was jailed indefinitely for public protection after Judge Jonathan Rose said he posed a significant risk to children.

Shaw will have to serve a minimum of two years in jail but must satisfy the Parole Board that he is no longer a risk before he can be released.

Shaw was arrested in September 2008, but bailed until June last year after he denied all the accusations made against him.

After his mobile phone was analysed Shaw admitted taking photographs of the girl in the shower, but denied being responsible for other images of indecent sexual touching.

On the day of his trial however Shaw admitted engaging in sexual activity with the girl, four charges of assault by penetration, one allegation of sexual assault and possessing indecent images of a child. The judge was told that because Shaw indicated his guilty pleas to the prosecution a few days before the trial the victim did not have to attend court.

His computer was also examined and although there were no indecent images there were 39 references to searches on the internet for child porn between May 2007 and June 2008.

Judge Rose told Shaw that he would have to serve a minimum of two years in jail, but he pointed out that he would only be released if the Parole Board decided he no longer posed a risk.

As part of the sentence Shaw was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The judge also imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order which includes restrictions on Shaw's use of the internet and bans him fom taking photographs of under-16s with a mobile phone or a camera.