Devastated parents of girl abused by Leeds predator say their 'world collapsed'
The parents of a seven-year-old girl abused by an ageing paedophile have said the guilt they carry is “overwhelming”.
Paedophile Anthony Hartley was jailed this week having been found guilty after a trial of sexual assault of the child and exposing himself.
A victim impact statement was written by the youngster’s parents and read out during the sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court.
Read to the court by prosecutor Philip Standfast, the heartfelt note read: “The day we found out, our world collapsed. It has broken us.
“We felt like we had failed her. Deep down we know it’s not out fault but it does not stop the guilt.
“It’s overwhelming and relentless.”
Sixty-one-year-old Hartley had pulled his trousers and underwear down to expose himself to the girl, who was six at the time, which left her feeling “anxious, mad and disgusted”.
The youngster later admitted there had been a separate occasion in which Hartley had “tickled her bits”, meaning he had touched her genitals over her clothes.
No other details can be disclosed to protect the identity of the victim.
Hartley was arrested and gave a prepared statement, denying the matters.
But he was found guilty after a trial in October of last year of both offences. Hartley, of Harold Square, Hyde Park, has 21 previous convictions for 48 offences, but none for sexual offences.
Judge Robin Mairs told Hartley there had been an “element of grooming” and told him: “Like most paedophiles you presented an air of respectability.
“The blame lies at your door and yours alone. They were two separate and discreet incidents.”
He jailed Hartley for 21 months, put him on the sex offender register for 10 years and gave him a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).