May 2009

10 years’ jail for man who abused two girls for years

A Parton man who subjected two schoolgirls to years of sexual abuse has been jailed for 10 years.

Andrew Gardner, 46, of Seven Acres, was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

He was also banned from ever working with children and from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

Gardner pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to offences including sexual assault and taking indecent photographs of one of his victims.

Judge Paul Batty QC described the case as “truly revolting”.