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Child sex offender jailed

Mon, 11 Apr 2011

A Laxey man has been jailed for 7 years for committing sexual offences against children.

 

24 year old Lewis Bell was found guilty of indecent assault, four counts of gross indecency with a child and possessing an indecent image of a child.

 

He was found not guilty of several other similar charges.

 

The offences involved two girls, aged 12 and 14.

 

The court heard that in the case of the 12 year old, Bell, who was 21 at the time, had driven her to a secluded spot and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

 

The same thing also happened on another occasion.

 

Deemster Moran told Bell he'd subjected the girl to degradation that has seriously damaged her.

 

In the case of the 14 year old, the Deemster said the defendant was sexually grooming her and had exposed himself to her on more than one occasion.

 

The court heard Bell had made searches for child pornography on his computer and had tried to imply that other members of the family may have been responsible.

 

As well as the seven year jail term, Bell was also placed on the sex offenders register.

 

 

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