June 2021

Dewsbury paedophile used trivia game in sick sexual abuse of young girl

A paedophile who subjected a young girl to years of sexual abuse has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

John Mahony committed non-recent child sexual abuse against two girls, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The 72-year-old, of Selbourne Road, Saville Town, Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to six counts of indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault.

He also pleaded guilty to a further count of indecency with a child in relation to a second girl.

Prosecutor Michael Collins said the abuse had started with sexual touching and escalated to playing a trivia game in which Mahony would ask her to take off her clothes, showing her pornography and taking photos of her undressed.

In a statement, the main victim said that as a child she was mistaken for being mature for her age, but she was actually nervous and withdrawn.

She described dealing with undiagnosed depression and anxiety as a result of the abuse and said that as she got older she tried to avoid responsibility and socialising.

She said her depression got worse after having her own children.