Taxi driver sentenced for sex offences against teenage girl
Andrew Cullen will serve five years of his seven year sentence behind bars
A taxi driver from West Sussex has been given a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexual offences against a teenage girl.
Andrew Cullen, 53, or Worthing, and formerly of Wick, 'groomed' the girl after contacting her on Instagram. He was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 5 March.
He was convicted on all six counts - one of grooming and five of sexual assault by touching, against the 14-year-old girl.
Cullen will serve the first five years in custody and the remaining two years on extended prison licence supervision and will be a registered sex offender for life.
Detective Constable Louise Clark of Chichester CID said; "Cullen made contact with this young girl and systematically groomed her over many occasions over period of months. The direct sexual contact was limited but his intention was clear.
"Eventually his activity was uncovered in June 2019 when by mistake he drove the girl in his taxi to what he thought was a quiet lane in Crossbush but which was in fact the drive to someone's house. As they were there, the owners returned home and confronted him, realised what was happening, and told the police.
"This is another example of the way in which youngsters can be vulnerable to approaches, often online, from people they do not know and who have sinister intentions."