A PERVERT kidnapped then sexually abused a teenage girl after following her in his van.

Steven Perry preyed on the girl in Hastings town centre.

He claimed to want to look after her, and took her back to an address in Bexhill.

But he abused her vulnerability for his own sick sexual desire.

A member of the public was concerned about seeing 64-year-old Perry follow the girl in his van, which she eventually got into.

He was found at the address in Bexhill, while the girl had been let go and had got back to her family.

At Brighton Crown Court Perry was convicted of false imprisonment, kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offence, and a sexual assault.

Brighton Magistrates Court

Brighton Magistrates Court

He was jailed for six years on an extended licence because the judge believed Perry presents a danger of committing a similar offence in future.

Detective Constable Ollie Bali of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Our investigation found that Perry had spotted the vulnerable girl alone in Hastings town centre, and on the pretext of looking after her, made her come with him to the Bexhill address where he sexually assaulted her before driving her to the other address.

"It was after they left the bungalow that they were seen apparently arguing by the member of the public who thankfully called us.

"She bravely gave her evidence via videolink and this was clearly an important factor in helping ensure that justice was done."

Perry, formerly of Rothwell Drive, Solihull, Warwickshire has been put under a ten-year restraining order not to contact the victim or witnesses in the case.

Steven Arthur Perry kidnapped a teenage girl off the street in Hastings and sexually abused her

Steven Arthur Perry kidnapped a teenage girl off the street in Hastings and sexually abused her

Sussex Police said he will be a registered sex offender for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order will remain in place indefinitely to restrict his access to children.

 

The force said: “We first received a report from a member of the public about a teenage girl being apparently followed by a man in a white vehicle in Gorselands, Bexhill about midnight on Saturday, June 27 last year.

“The girl was seen to get into the vehicle which drove away.

“Officers swiftly tracked down the suspect vehicle and Perry to a bungalow in Withyham Road, Cooden, Bexhill, the address of a relative where he was staying.

“The victim - a 14-year-old girl - was not at the address but was later found safe at a East Sussex address belonging to her family.”