A WIDNES paedophile has been jailed for eight years for attempting to rape a young girl and sexually abusing her for four years.

Anthony Parton, aged 47, of Cunningham Road, Ditton, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court after admitting a string of historic sexual abuse.

He pleaded guilty to attempted rape and 13 other charges of indecency with a child and indecent assault.

Speaking afterwards, Alison Mutch, deputy chief crown prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Parton abused this woman for several years, from when she was aged eight until she was 12.

“He committed a series of extremely serious sexual offences on what was a very young girl, with no thought for her feelings at all or the impact it was having on her.

“She may not have fully understood what was happening but she knew it was wrong and felt powerless to do anything about it.”

She paid tribute the victim for plucking up the courage to report the childhood abuse and helping to secure the conviction.

Parton was jailed on March 11.

Ms Mutch added: “I would like to thank her for her bravery in finally coming forward to tell the authorities what she had endured as a child.

“The Crown Prosecution Service treats allegations of sexual abuse very seriously, no matter how long ago the offences took place.

“We hope that this conviction and others like it give victims the courage to come forward and seek justice.”

Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution runs two dedicated Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Units, where specialist prosecutors work alongside the police.

The area currently has the best conviction rate in England and Wales for offences of violence against women and girls.