Southend paedophile jailed for abuse of teenage girl
Michael Tonge was spotted acting inappropriately towards the girl in a park
A man's been sentenced to nine years in prison after abusing a vulnerable teenage girl in Southend.
35 year-old Michael Tonge of Leamington Road was arrested after reports from a member of the public that he was acting inappropriately towards a girl in Priory Park.
Hundreds of explicit messages between the girl and the man were later found on his mobile.
Tonge later admitted to grooming and abusing the victim over several years.
He was found guilty by a jury at Basildon Crown Court of seven counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual communications with a child.
He'll spend three years on extended licence after his release.
DC Dean Perry, of Essex Police, said:
“Tonge abused the trust shown to him by a teenage girl who looked up to him for support.
“He exploited her vulnerabilities for his own sexual gratification, with a complete disregard for the harm it would cause her.
“He is a sexual predator and I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to put him behind bars where he belongs.”