Leicestershire man jailed for abusing a young girl

Graham Moulds was also found to have downloaded indecent images of children

A 41-year-old man who indecently assaulted a young girl in Leicestershire and also downloaded indecent images of children has been jailed.

Graham Moulds was sentenced to a total of five years and three months when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court.

Moulds, of no fixed address, sexually abused his young victim in 2017 – when she was just eight years old.

In October 2018 – at Leicester Crown Court – he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.

He then stood trial at the same court in July this year, where he was found guilty of two counts of attempting to arrange to meet a girl under 16 following grooming and one count of making indecent images of children.

He is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

He was subject to an investigation by two force departments – the Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) and the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

Detective Constable Emma Burrows, from the CAIU, said: “I’ve little doubt that Moulds will have thought his victim wouldn’t tell someone about what he’d done. She’s shown great courage in coming forward and speaking to us about the abuse she was subjected to.”

“Offences of this nature are always taken extremely seriously and are subject to a full and proper investigation by specialist officers.

“The sentence handed to Moulds today will give time for him to reflect on his actions and the impact this has had on his victim.”

Detective Constable Tom Cane, from the POLIT, added: “It is clear from his offending that Moulds has a sexual interest in young girls. I hope the fact he is now serving a prison sentence will provide reassurance to the public that the force will always endeavour to bring those committing such horrific crimes involving children to justice.”