A paedophile asked a girl if she wanted to see his guinea pigs and groomed her with gifts.
David Campbell subjected two children to a catalogue of sickening sexual abuse when they were aged as young as five. He was jailed for 17 years yesterday, Friday, for his "unforgiveable" actions.
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court, prosecuted by Ben Jones, heard how the 73-year-old targeted one of the youngsters over a period lasting seven years. Campbell, of Longfield Avenue in Crosby, bought another victim dolls and told her to "come and see his guinea pigs" before assaulting her.
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His crimes were first reported to the police in 2020. Campbell was subsequently charged with a series of child sex offences, and was found guilty of 11 counts - including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and exposure - by a jury on Thursday.
During his sentencing yesterday, Friday, statements were read out to the court on behalf of the complainants. One of them said: "I need justice for the disgusting, awful crimes he committed against me - what he has done is unforgiveable."
The second said she had been left "scarred" by Campbell, adding: "What happened to me when I was younger definitely changed me and made me see the world in a different way. I feel angry knowing what happened to me.
"I feel sad that someone could to this to me - I feel disgusted knowing my happy childhood was taken away from me. I can't just forget, these things don't go away."
Campbell was previously convicted of indecent assault back in 1988. Fiona McNeill, defending, said that the pensioner suffers from osteoarthritis and mental health issues.
She added: "He has maintained he is not guilty of the offences throughout. He is, of course, prepared for a significant period of imprisonment.
"A custodial sentence will weigh particularly heavily on a man of his age. He is suffering from the effects of old age."
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones imposed the lengthy prison sentence and told Campbell to sign the sex offenders' register for life. He said the abuse "was undertaken on a regular basis" and had caused "enduring and severe psychological damage".
Sentencing, the judge added: "This was entirely for your own sexual gratification. The ripples from your actions continue to be spread in so many ways in affecting many people's lives."
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