Pervert had dark history

IAN Stallard, a father of one, was sentenced to a four-year spell in prison for indecent assault and two years for gross indecency to run concurrently and was disqualified from working with children indefinitely at Ipswich Crown Court.

IAN Stallard, a father of one, was sentenced to a four-year spell in prison for indecent assault and two years for gross indecency to run concurrently and was disqualified from working with children indefinitely at Ipswich Crown Court.A jury could not reach a decision on whether Stallard was guilty of attempting to engage in sexual intercourse with her.

In 1971, he was convicted of a similar crime when he engaged in a sexual act with another 14-year-old.

Nicola May, representing Stallard, said: “My client accepts that he will be sentenced on the basis of the jury's decision and I would ask that the sentence be kept as low as possible.

“There was no suggestion of resistance by the victim and when she asked him to stop, he stopped.

“There has been a period of more than 30 years between the offences and no suggestion of repetition of his behaviour in that time.”

When sentencing Stall-ard for his crime, Judge John Devaux said: “In your favour, no force or coercion was involved but you quite deliberately created an environment at your home which was welcoming to children.

“It was abuse of a vulnerable girl over a two-year period.

“The seriousness of this case means that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”