The case of a 14-year-old girl in West Sussex highlights the urgent need for a change in the law on sex offenders.
The girl's father wants to protect her from Richard Barden, a man on the sex offenders' register, who lives in Steyning and persistently sees the girl.
Despite approaching the police 137 times and making 15 visits to court, he finds the police cannot prosecute because the girl will not make a complaint.
As a minor and under the control of her father, he should have rights over her in this case.
Instead, he and the police appear powerless to stop Barden from having a relationship with her.
They should be able to get Barden off the streets, where he is a potential menace to this girl and others.
Instead, Barden is free and the girl's father is the one who is suffering instead.
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