A BABYSITTER has been jailed for 12 years for preying on two young girls. Sexual predator Daniel Lee Spence, 29, was only caught when one of his victims, now 14, broke down at school to reveal her ordeal.
Spence, of Hull, still forced the girls to give evidence at a trial before he was convicted by a jury of a seven-year reign of terror.
Last night, the mum of one of the victims said: "These two girls will never be the same again. We are devastated with what has happened – it is sickening. We just wish we had found out earlier to have put a stop to this so much sooner.
"Twelve years is not long enough. These girls will be scarred forever."
Hull Crown Court heard babysitter Spence would wait for his victims' parents to leave before he targeted the girls in their own homes between 2004 and 2011, beginning his abuse when one was just four.
Despite protesting his innocence, Spence was found guilty at the end of a trial of nine sexual offences against the two children earlier this month. He was brought back to court to be sentenced yesterday.
The father of one of the victims said: "We regret trusting this man. He seemed a quiet guy. We can't believe this happened and in our own homes – it is disgusting."
Sentencing Spence Judge Mark Bury said he had shown no remorse for the sustained abuse against his victims.
He told Spence: "The girls were abused in their own homes. You babysat them and they trusted you. You denied these offences and you have shown absolutely no remorse – even to this day."
Anil Murray, defending, said: "Mr Spence had difficulties when he was young. He cannot read or write and he has always been a loner."
After the case, Humberside Police praised the courage of the girls, supported by their families throughout the ordeal.
DC Julie Kitchen, of Hull's public protection team, said: "I would like to praise the two girls in this case as they were very brave and the families were patient during the investigation and court proceeding. Mr Spence abused a position of trust in order to commit the offences while alone with the children over many years."
DC Kitchen said: "I am pleased that we have been able to bring Spence to justice and hope it sends out a warning to others like him that the police will do everything in our power to bring sexual offenders to justice."
Spence has now been placed on the sex offenders register for life.
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