A paedophile who a targeted teenage girl at a house in Leyland has been given a lengthy jail term.
In April 2023 31 year old Lewis Westwood isolated his victim inside a house in Leyland and engaged her in sexual activity against her will. Later the same day he further sexually abused her in a different part of the property.
The victim reported what Westwood had done to her in June 2023 and he was arrested.
He defendant admitted to attending the property, but denied any wrongdoing. He tried to explain away the presence of his DNA in the room where the raped happened, by claiming he only went in there to charge his phone.
Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Westwood, of Brisco Road in Egremont, Cumbria, was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child.
Westwood appeared at the same court this week where he was jailed for 12 years. Westwood was also made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told to sign the Sex offenders Register for life.
In a statement to the court, the victim wrote: “Since this has happened my emotional physical and mental health has deteriorated, and my life has been put on hold for the last three years.
‘’Having to talk to police officers about it and asked questions about it both in suites and at court kept it haunting me. It hasn’t just affected me, it affected my work, my social life and I can’t see a future where I will just ‘move on’ from this.
“I find myself forever doubting people’s intentions, and this has meant that no matter who I come across I push people away. The whole experience has left me feeling very lonely.”
DC Cora Cook, from our Preston Child Protection Team, said: “Lewis Westwood is a dangerous and persistent sexual predator who targeted a vulnerable girl for his own sordid sexual intentions.
“I welcome the sentence which reflects the seriousness of the offending and the danger Westwood poses to female children.
“Finally, and most importantly, I would like to praise the victim for her bravery and patience throughout this process.”
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