June 2010

Paedophile pair’s underage sex den

TWO paedophiles who turned their shared flat into a drink and drugs den to lure underage girls have been jailed.

Clint Burton and Anthony Nesbitt made sure 14 and 15- year-old schoolgirls were “always welcome” at their home in Robinson Terrace, Washington, and enticed them with DVDs, alcohol and cigarettes.

Newcastle Crown Court heard once the girls were inside the proprety, the pair would play provocative party games and have sordid conversations with the youngsters.

Burton, 27, admitted having sexual activity with one of the children at the flat and with three other schoolgirls he had got to know.

Nesbitt, 23, admitted having sexual activity with one of the children at the flat.

Prosecutor Penny Moreland told the court girls were welcome at the flat days, nights, weekends and even when they were supposed to be at school.

Moreland told the court: “The girls were keen to spend time there because there were DVDs and the men encouraged them to stay overnight.

“Drink, cigarettes and drugs were available and the men instigated games that were likely to lead to inappropriate physical contact such as truth or dare or spin the bottle.”

The court heard the pair would pose as parents to reassure the young visitors’ mams and dads. One of the victims thought she was being filmed while having sex at the flat but no recordings were ever found.

Burton, of Station Road, Washington, was sentenced to five years in prison with a three-year extended licence period.

He was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order which bans him from having any lone contact with underage girls and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Nesbitt, of Gartland Road, Sunderland, who had also admitted an unrelated charge of having a bladed article, was sentenced to two years and three months. He must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

They will be barred from working with children for life.