A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed today for three years for sexually abusing a young girl more than quarter of a century ago.

Anthony Sutcliffe, 44, of Barnes Road, Widnes, was convicted of indecently assaulting the girl when she was aged between six and eight.

Moments later when she screamed, he hit her.

After a trial a jury also found him guilty of one count of gross indecency.

The two assaults happened on one evening in the 1990s when the dad-of-two was babysitting the girl.

Breaking down in tears, the victim read out her victim impact statement at Warrington Crown Court, saying: “I can’t sleep. I constantly feel anxious.

“I am on anti depression tablets.”

She believes the stress and anxiety had caused her to suffer serious epilepsy as she has endured ‘a living hell’.

Prosecutor Gareth Roberts said the victim had not told anyone about the assault.

“She kept it to herself for years,” said Mr Roberts. “Eventually she told her partner.”

The police were notified and Sutcliffe was arrested.

Defending, Matthew Dunford described Sutcliffe as a ‘hard working family man’.

His partner of 13 years and his family, he said, had stood by him.

He has now lost his job as an excavator earning £400 a week and was worried about not being able to support his family.

Sentencing him, Judge Tina Landale said: “When she (the victim) shouted in horror and revulsion your response was to slap her and run.

“You have exhibited no remorse whatsoever for your offence.”

Nicola Sutton, of Cherry Sutton, Widnes was jailed after she launched into a tirade of abuse and spat in the face of a prosecution witness moments after her brother was found guilty of historic sexual offences.

The 43-year-old child minder was sentenced to 12 months in prison on May 25 after she subjected a number of witnesses to a vicious outburst.

She pleaded guilty to contempt of court.

The single mum, who cares for three children, aged five to 16 as well as her 20-year-old son with autism, had been present throughout the trial.