East Sussex man with dementia found responsible for sexually abusing young girl
The former pub landlord is said to have 'groomed not only a child, but an entire community'.
A jury has found a former pub landlord from East Sussex responsible for sexually abusing a young girl over a six-year period.
Police said 75-year-old, Robert Daniels, of Ellis Gordon Court, Newhaven, is a ‘predatory sex offender who groomed not only a child, but an entire community’.
Daniels, who used to run the Engineer pub in the town, avoided jail because he suffers from dementia - but the court gave him a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, severely restricting his access to children.
He has also been added to the Sex Offenders Register for seven-years, which he was already on for a previous unrelated sexual assault and is banned from visiting the pub he ran.
Detective Sergeant Nick Green, from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit in Eastbourne, said: “I would like to thank his (Robert Daniels) young victim for the incredible bravery she has shown in reporting these crimes and supporting the investigation through to prosecution.
“While the unique circumstances of this case meant a custodial sentence was not possible, the verdict delivered on Wednesday confirms Daniels was responsible for these horrific crimes and holds him to account.
“The Sexual Harm Prevention Order issued, as well as the extension of Daniels’ appearance on the Sex Offenders’ Register, should ensure he is not able to cause any further harm to the victim and her family, while protecting other children in the community.”