A mother has spoken out about the devastating impact of a man who sexually assaulted her son, describing him as a "monster" who has "stolen" her son's childhood and left them both prisoners in their own home.

Dale Barker, 33, was jailed for six years and nine months after admitting to sexually assaulting a child and possessing a knife. He befriended the mother while working in a shop, but his behavior quickly raised concerns.

"He kept buying gifts and things for my son and being overly pally," she said. "It was grooming, but when I said I didn't want this anymore it went really, really wrong. I asked him to leave but he wouldn't go. He assaulted me in front of my son, but that charge was later dropped. It went into a whole spiral of awful things - knife threats, arson threats, everything."

As a result of the threats, the family was given a priority to move home and their house was safeguarded by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. The mother described living in constant fear, locking doors and gates, and using a tracker on her son's phone. Both mother and son suffered serious mental health problems, with the son becoming suicidal and dropping out of school.

"I am constantly ill through stress and hypervigilance and my symptoms have manifested physically over the last 16 months," the mother said. "Barker has destroyed our family. He has taken away my son's childhood which he will never get back and has to carry this for the rest of his life."

Judge Sara Dodd, sentencing Barker, described him as a dangerous offender who posed a significant risk to the public. She imposed an extended license period of three years and three months and an indefinite restraining order to protect the family. Barker was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and subject to a 12-year sexual harm prevention order.

The mother said: "The day he was sentenced was the hardest day of my life. I went through so many different emotions - relief, shock, fear. I honestly think he is a psychopath. My son has had to be so brave and grown up but I think the bravery and resilience he has shown has saved so many potential victims."

While relieved that Barker is behind bars, the mother acknowledges there is still a long road ahead for her and her son to recover from the trauma they have endured.