A dangerous predator tricked a vulnerable teenager into thinking she was in love with him before sexually assaulting her.
Michael Smith spent months grooming his victim before setting up a meeting with her and luring her back to his home.
The 49-year-old has now been locked up after a jury saw through his denials.
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Smith was convicted of causing and inciting a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity following a five day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Jurors heard how the 49-year-old had preyed on the teenager for months before arranging to collect her from an address in Warrington in February of last year.
He then drove the girl back to his flat in Cheetham Fold Road, Hyde, Greater Manchester, where he sexually assaulted her.
She was found at around 5.30am the following day after she contacted police.
Following his conviction, Smith was sentenced to 12 years in jail and branded a “danger” to the public by a judge.
He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.
After his sentencing, Detective Constable Stephen Martin, who led the Cheshire Police investigation, said: “Smith knew the victim was underage and he knew that she was vulnerable.
“In spite of this, he purposefully chose to take advantage of her, grooming the girl over a number of months and convincing her that she was in love with him.
“After gaining her trust, he then collected her from her home in Warrington and took her to his flat in Hyde where he sexually assaulted her.
“Thankfully, as a result of the evidence provided by the victim and the evidence gathered during our investigation, Smith is now facing a significant prison sentence and is no longer a danger to the general public.”
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