A CONVICTED sex offender who travelled over 150 miles to prey on a young girl in Sussex has been sentenced.

Gary Fenn used a dating website to get to know a woman and travelled to Southwick to meet her in June this year.

He used the opportunity to sexually assault her young daughter. The girl managed to escape the situation and informed her mother who then called the police.

Police investigated and arrested Fenn, they later charged him on the authority of the CPS. He has been in custody ever since his arrest.

Fenn, of Saxon Road, Saxmundham, Suffolk, appeared in custody at Hove Crown Court.

The 50-year-old had been convicted of sexual assaulting the girl, who was under 13, and of two breaches of Sex Offender Registration Notification requirements.

He was given a nine-year extended sentence, comprising five years imprisonment and four extended period on prison release licence.

He will also continue to be a registered sex offender for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last indefinitely, severely restricting his access to children and digital communication devices.

Detective Constable Emily Turner of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "In June this year Fenn, already registered sex offender, previously been convicted of offences involving indecent images of children, used a dating website to get to know a woman and travelled to Southwick in Sussex to meet her.

"He used this opportunity to meet and sexually touch her young daughter. However the girl quickly escaped the situation and informed her mother who then contacted the police."

The Argus: Gary FennGary Fenn

DC Turner added: "The bravery of this young lady in standing up against what she knew to be wrong and by supporting this prosecution has undoubtedly kept other children safe from this predatory paedophile who has previous convictions for sexual offending."

In sentencing him, Judge Shani Barnes said: "We cannot underestimate the damage caused to the family by Fenn taking this opportunity to offend."

For information on reporting sexual offences and support available, see the Sussex Police website.

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