Rotherham man jailed for 10 years for child sex offences

A man has been jailed for 10 years for child sex offences after subjecting his victims to "degrading abuse".

Neil Cawton, from Rawmarsh, near Rotherham, was found guilty of nine charges, including sexual activity with a child and assault, between 2006-2012.

Cawton committed the offences against four girls aged between 13-16, who he lured into his home after buying them cigarettes and alcohol.

He was sentenced on Thursday following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

The offences took place after Cawton lost his job, a jury had been told.

The court heard he would buy cigarettes and alcohol at the local shop for underage girls, before inviting them back to his house.

One victim told the court he would expose himself to them and perform sex acts in front of her.

Another victim detailed how Cawton had sexually assaulted her in the kitchen of his home.

Cawton was charged after an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of Operation Stovewood, its inquiry into historical child sex abuse in and around Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

NCA senior investigating officer Andy Sandham said: "Neil Cawton took advantage of these young and vulnerable teenagers, plying them with alcohol and cigarettes in a bid to get their trust.

"He tried to pretend he was their friend. He was not, he was their abuser."

Sam Thompson, specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said Cawton was "calculating in his approach, luring young girls into his home with cigarettes and alcohol so he could prey on them".

"Once he had gained their trust, he subjected them to degrading abuse for his own gratification," Ms Thompson added.

As well as a jail term, Cawton was made subject to a 15-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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