Brighton man sentenced for sex offending against young girl.

Brighton Man Sentenced for Sexual Assault

A Brighton man has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault on a girl under the age of 13, more than six years ago.

Jason Lineker, 34, of Mouslecoomb Way, Brighton, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict at Lewes Crown Court on August 27 after a five-day trial. The trial included evidence from witnesses and the girl herself.

Lineker was sentenced on September 3 to four and a half years in prison, plus an additional year on prison licence. He will be a registered sex offender for life and was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court order, severely restricting his access to children.

This was a re-trial after a previous jury failed to reach a verdict in November 2020.

Detective Constable Angela Harvey of the Brighton Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "The victim, a young child, was very brave, having to give evidence in two trials as a result of the hung jury outcome in November 2020."