A paedophile who claimed he sexually abused a schoolgirl 'because she liked it' has been jailed for eight years. Alan Lodge, 53, kissed the victim, carried out sex acts in front of her, and forced her to inappropriately touch him. The abuse occurred between 2022 and 2024 while Lodge lived in Streetly, West Midlands.
Abuse and Manipulation
Lodge would ask his victim if she 'liked it', and the youngster 'acted as if she did' only in the 'naïve hope' that his abuse would end quicker. In reality, the girl 'felt sick' and has since struggled to come to terms with what happened. Prosecutor Laurie Scott told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Lodge admitted receiving sexual gratification from his crimes during his police interview.
Victim Impact
In a statement read to the court, the girl said she has become 'withdrawn' from others, leaving her feeling 'lonely'. She struggles to leave home and experiences panic attacks if she does. She also has sleeping problems and often wakes up 'with nightmares'. She added: 'My life will never be the same.'
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Sentencing, Judge John Edwards noted a letter written to the court by Lodge, calling it 'very thought out and insightful'. He said Lodge recognised the harm he had done, but described his offending as the 'most egregious offence' at the 'most impressionable time of her life'. The judge pointed to Lodge's 'wholly warped logic' detailed in a pre-sentence report, adding: 'You plainly knew what you were doing was very wrong but somehow felt justification for what you were doing because [you thought] she was deriving pleasure from it.'
Charges and Sentence
Lodge admitted 11 counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. He was sentenced on Wednesday, May 20, and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life. Lodge, now of Cleveland Way, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, had no previous convictions.
