JORDAN APPLEBY – MANCHESTER

Man jailed after admitting sexual activity with child as victim says ‘I wanted to die’

A man who admitted four offences of sexual activity with a child has been jailed after his victim told a court the abuse left her feeling “dirty” and at one point made her want to die.

Jordan Appleby, 28, of Crowden Road, appeared before Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child. He had originally faced two counts of rape, but prosecutors accepted alternative guilty pleas.

The court heard the girl was shown a video of Appleby having sex and was filmed performing an indecent act without her consent.

Prosecutor Gavin Howie said Appleby did not ask for consent and that although the girl did not refuse, she knew what was happening was wrong and did not want to have sex.

Following his arrest, Appleby denied forcing anyone, telling police: “I’ve never raped anyone. I’ve never made anyone do anything they didn’t want to do.”

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the girl described the lasting impact of the abuse.

She said she felt unable to tell anyone what had happened and believed she had done something wrong.

“I felt like I couldn’t say anything to anyone. I felt like I had to be silent. I felt like I was being judged and I felt isolated,” she said.

She added: “At the time, I felt like I wanted to die. I realise now that it was not my fault. If I think about him, it triggers me.”

Sentencing Appleby, Judge Sarah Johnston said the victim had been left confused, feeling “used and soiled” and burdened by guilt despite being “entirely blameless”.

The judge told Appleby the girl had been a child at the time and that he had taken advantage of her.

Defending, Robert Fitt said Appleby had no previous convictions and had admitted the sexual contact from the outset.

Appleby was jailed for two years and two months.