Drove 100 miles to sexually assault schoolgirl.

Convicted Sex Offender Jailed for 15 Years After Assaulting Schoolgirl

A convicted sex offender, Aaron Scanlon, 30, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a schoolgirl. Scanlon, previously from Rochdale, drove 100 miles to the victim's home in Darlington, arriving just after 8am. He had previously groomed the victim during "lengthy phone calls" where he told her he loved her.

When the victim left her house, Scanlon offered to take her to school but instead drove her to a secluded layby and sexually assaulted her. After dropping her off near her school, where the girl reported the incident to staff, Scanlon returned to Rochdale, where he was arrested by officers.

Scanlon, now residing in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to charges of assault by penetration and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. He was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court last week.

It was revealed that Scanlon has a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 in 2010.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Ian Banham, from Darlington Safeguarding Team, stated: "Scanlon is a dangerous individual who targeted this girl after forming a relationship with her over the phone and groomed her for some time. He then travelled from his home in Rochdale to commit this horrendous act without any consideration for the life-changing and devastating impact it would have on the girl. I hope this sentence provides her with some closure and allows her to move on and rebuild her life."