Alan Wilson, a 63-year-old man from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against a young girl.

Durham Crown Court heard that Wilson committed the "utterly despicable" offences over the course of a few days last year. He admitted to nine counts of sexual assault, seven counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and one count of possessing indecent images of a child.

The court heard that Wilson filmed some of the offences and was assessed as posing a high risk of causing harm to children. Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC told Wilson that it was "difficult to imagine a worse example" of such offending and said he had a sexual attraction to children.

Wilson's defence lawyer argued that none of the offences were "sustained" and that he recognised his wrongdoing. However, Recorder Enoch imposed a 12-year prison sentence, stating that Wilson must serve at least two-thirds before being eligible for release on licence.

In addition to the prison sentence, Wilson was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim for life. He is also subject to indefinite notification requirements and registration as a sex offender.