Plymouth paedophile jailed for third time for abusing young girls

A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for the third time for abusing young girls.

Sandy Cosburn, aged 58, was jailed for 43 months after indecently assaulting a young girl 27 years ago.

Cosburn was caught after his victim had counselling in 2004, told her family and finally reported the attack to police a year ago.

After the sentencing, his victim told The Herald: "I have spent 27 years with a demon, but it gives me strength to know it's finished.

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"He's not the scary person I remembered; he's insignificant."

She said she was "over the moon" at the sentence, having expected one of less than 18 months.

Cosburn denied indecent assault until the very day of his trial on May 14, when he changed his plea to guilty.

Prosecutor Jason Beal said that at the time of the offence, both Cosburn and his victim lived in Devonport.

Cosburn lured the girl, her sister and a friend to his home to see his pets after watching them playing on Granby Green.

But when she asked to use the toilet, he followed her into the bathroom, which had no lock on the door, and indecently assaulted her.

Mr Beal said the girl told no-one because she was scared and embarrassed, and feared she might get into trouble.

He said that Cosburn had made five previous court appearances, being jailed for two months by magistrates in 1986 for a similar assault on another young girl and for three years in 2005 for another sexual assault in 1981 on one of the victim's young friends.

Mr Beal said Cosburn was already on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Jo Martin, for Cosburn, said he was frightened of prison and had been unable to deal with his past coming back to haunt him.

She said all three offences had been committed over a five-year period, and his offending had ceased after he was jailed in 1986.

She said he had been regularly visited by an officer from the Dangerous Offenders Team, and was "not a well man".

Judge Francis Gilbert QC told Cosburn he could have admitted the offence at either of his two previous sentencings, but had chosen to keep quiet.

He added: "You lured your victim into your home on a pretext.

"She has, of course, suffered very serious consequences and continues to suffer, demonstrating the seriousness of what you did."

He sentenced Cosburn, of Kitter Drive, Staddiscombe, to four years in jail, less a five-month discount for his late guilty plea.