'Dangerous' paedophile isolated girl, 14, before raping and sexually assaulting her in Leyland

'DANGEROUS' PAEDOPHILE ISOLATED GIRL, 14, BEFORE RAPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER IN LEYLAND

Lewis Westwood, aged 31, isolated a young woman inside a house in April 2023 and later assaulted her sexually.

On the same day, he committed a second assault and raped her.

The teenager reported these offences in June 2023, which resulted in Westwood's arrest.

He accepted being at the scene, but denied committing any wrongdoing, asserting that his DNA found in the room where the rape occurred was because he had gone there to charge his phone.

At Preston Crown Court, Westwood, residing on Brisco Road in Egremont, Cumbria, was convicted of six counts of sexual activity with a child.

On Monday, February 9, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Additionally, he was ordered to be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandatory lifelong registration on the Sex Offenders Register.

The victim, in a statement read to the court, explained that the incidents had caused her emotional, physical, and mental health deterioration, leaving her life "on hold" for three years.

She detailed how engaging with police officers and giving statements had haunted her, affecting her work, social interactions, and outlook on the future.

She revealed that she now struggles with trusting others and tends to push people away, feeling extremely lonely due to her trauma.