March 2009

Middlesbrough child sex abuser jailed after mum secretly recorded confession

A mum’s secret recording put a sex offender behind bars for three years yesterday.

Her five-year-old daughter had told her that kitchen fitter Michael Jennings sexually assaulted her in her home.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, confronted him and she used her mobile phone hidden in her pocket to tape his shamed confession.

Jennings, 41, told the mother: “I knew she would tell you, I knew she would”.

He was originally charged with raping the youngster at the house in Middlesbrough, but there was no medical evidence and he admitted other sexual acts.

The girl told her mother in January last year that Jennings had touched her private parts, said prosecutor Tina Dempster.

She added: “Over a weekend he made some admissions to the mother which was recorded on the phone by her.”

Paul Cleasby, defending, said it was an unusual case in that Jennings was prepared to make admissions to the mother.

Mr Cleasby told Teesside Crown Court: “He understands that a significant custodial sentence will follow this.

“He accepted immediately that the girl was telling the truth, and she did not have to give evidence.

“He is willing to co-operate while in custody with those who will work with him, and once released he will work with those in the community.”

Judge Les Spittle told Jennings: “Your guilty pleas saved that child from having to come to court and give evidence which would only serve to exacerbate the acts that were practised on her.

“This was a course of conduct, not an isolated incident, I am dealing here with eight incidents.

“One cannot imagine the effect upon this child of your behaviour, she is so young and one can only hope that the matters will fade.”

Jennings, of Holmwood Avenue, Middlesbrough, was jailed for three years, banned for life from unsupervised contact with youngsters under 16 or working with them, and he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault, sexual activity in the presence of a child and incitement.

A formal not guilty verdict was recorded on rape.