Ipswich: Paedophile BT worker tried to touch girl, 10, between her legs and was later caught with 69 indecent images of children
IPSWICH: A paedophile who sexually touched a ten-year-old girl will appear before a crown court judge to hear his fate.
Kevin O’Neill has admitted two charges of touching the youngster in December last year and having 69 indecent images of children on his hard drive.
The 52-year-old, of Foundry Lane, Ipswich, was told by magistrates on Monday his offences were so serious they could only be dealt with at crown court.
South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court heard that O’Neill – who has been suspended on full pay from his job with British Telecom – had assaulted the girl after walking into the bedroom where she was sleeping.
Prosecutor Emma Howson said: “The defendant entered the bedroom on several occasions and tried to move her around and touch her inbetween her legs, attempting to bring her pyjama bottoms down. She pretended to be asleep because she was scared of the defendant.”
Days later detectives swooped on O’Neill’s address, seizing his computer where they found scores of indecent images and videos of children.
Ms Howson told the court there was a single image and 17 videos at level-one indecency; a dozen videos at level-two; 16 videos at level-three; and 23 videos at level-four.
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Magistrates could have sentenced O’Neill but after around five minutes of deliberations they decided to send him to Ipswich Crown Court.
Magistrate Bernard Hines said: “The offences are so serious you need greater punishment than this court can give.”
O’Neill was released on bail on the condition he does not contact the girl or her family. A date has not yet been set for his sentencing.
