CRAIG HODGSON SENTENCED IN PRESTON FOR ABUSE IN LANCASHIRE

A man charged with paying a 13-year-old girl £10 for a kiss, then proceeding to rape and indecently assault her, was brought to justice in Lancashire. The offender, Craig Hodgson, aged 56, groomed his young victim by giving her alcohol before offering her money for the kiss, according to Lancashire Police. Records show that Hodgson committed these offences in 2002 in his hometown, but they were only reported to police 16 years later. He was subsequently sentenced to nearly ten years in prison at Preston Crown Court and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Hodgson had denied charges of rape and indecent assault but was found guilty unanimously by a jury earlier this month. Detective Constable Vicky Heys expressed her commendation to the victim, saying, “I would like first and foremost to commend the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward and report what happened to her all those years ago and for the strength to see these proceedings through to this point – I hope that she feels some sense that justice has been done.” She added, “Hodgson is clearly a paedophile who has an interest in young girls and who took steps to groom and then indecently assault and rape a young teenager for his own sexual gratification and regardless of the lasting damage it would cause his young victim.”