A paedophile from Stevenage has been jailed for six years after pleading guilty to committing sexual offences against a child.

Dean Pitcher, 38, of Chapman Road, was arrested in April 2022 after Herts police received reports of alleged offences.

He was subsequently charged with: ten counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with aged 13 to 15; possessing indecent photographs of a child; possessing a controlled class A drug (cocaine); and driving a vehicle while unfit due to drugs.

The offences were committed over a period of 13 months, and relate to one victim.

Appearing at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday, December 4, Pitcher was given his six-year custodial sentence and was added the sex offenders register for life.

He was also placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely, and will be disqualified from driving upon release. If he wants to drive again, he will have to take an extended re-test.

Detective Sergeant Ayodeji Afolabi led Hertfordshire police's investigation, and said: “I would like to commend the bravery of the victim and family who have supported this investigation. 

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“I hope this prison sentence demonstrates how serious the defendant’s crimes were and provides a sense of closure to the victim and her family, but also re-assures our community that we take reports of abuse very seriously.”

If you suspect a person is carrying out child sexual exploitation, or you think someone you know has been a victim, or may be soon, you should call 101.

If someone is in immediate danger of harm, please call 999.

Further details are available on the Herts Police website.

Alternatively, you can report information anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.