A SICK paedophile who preyed on a four-year-old girl has been jailed.

Pensioner Norman Haddock was found guilty of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a majority jury on Friday, October 18, after a five-day trial.

And the 70-year-old, formerly of Lymm, was handed six years behind bars by judge Simon Berkson.

Haddock forced the girl to touch him sexually in the early 2010s when she was aged as young as four, during offences committed in the Warrington area.

But he was found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault on the same girl, and acquitted of a separate charge of sexually assaulting another child when she was aged as young as 10.

The defendant, of Old Coach Road in Runcorn, was also handed a 15-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely at Chester Crown Court last week.

Haddock was subjected to a restraining order preventing him from contacting his young victim for the next 15 years and ordered to pay a surcharge.

Children’s charity the NSPCC described his actions as being ‘appalling crimes which left emotional and mental scars’ on the young girl whom he subjected to his sickening abuse.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Haddock’s appalling crimes targeted a vulnerable child on several occasions.

“The emotional and mental scarring Haddock forced on his young victim cannot be underestimated, and we hope she receives necessary support to aid in her recovery.

“We would urge anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, no matter when it took place, to speak out and seek support.”

Children can report abuse by calling Childline on 0800 1111, while adults with concerns about a child’s wellbeing or who wish to report historic offences can phone the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.