Man (70) jailed for 1980s sex offences against teen girls

David Allan Brown (70) of Admiral Street, Burnley, was handed nine years and four months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to seven offences relating to the exploitation and sexual abuse of children in the 1980s.

These included two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, inciting a girl under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency, two counts of taking indecent photographs of children and two counts of indecently assaulting a girl under 14.

The result is the culmination of an investigation that lasted almost two years.

Specially trained detectives from Lancashire Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit worked closely with colleagues from the CPS to piece together evidence that showed, over a period of years, Brown had targeted vulnerable children aged 14 and under and befriended them, before exploiting and abusing them.

Speaking after sentencing investigating officer DC Samantha Bottomley said: “David Brown is a predatory sex offender who preyed on young vulnerable children and exploited them.

“What’s all the more sinister is how Brown targeted these youngsters and groomed them.

“Lancashire Constabulary will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute those who abuse and exploit children and the vulnerable in our society.

“I must make mention of those brave individuals who had the strength to stand up to Brown by reporting their ordeals to the police and supporting the enquiry throughout.

“They behaved with dignity throughout this investigation and without their support this prosecution simply would not have been possible.”