Steven Murphy 45

Description

A registered sex offender branded a "dangerous predator" has been jailed for 11 years after sexually assaulting a woman and attempting to rape her 12-year-old daughter.

Steven Murphy, 45, contacted the mother on Facebook and visited her Preston home in April, where she was celebrating her daughter's talent show appearance. He offered to drive other guests home before returning alone, assaulting the woman. When she fell asleep due to medication changes, he entered the girl's bedroom, climbed into her bed, and assaulted her while trying to rape her. She repeatedly told him to leave before he fled.

Of Tiller Road, Cottam, Murphy denied one count of sexual assault on the mother and two counts plus attempted rape on the daughter but was convicted at Preston Crown Court. The judge imposed an 11-year custodial term plus an eight-year extended licence, classifying him as a dangerous offenderreserved for cases posing serious public harm risk. Offenders serve two-thirds of custody before possible parole; if released early or at term's end, they remain supervised until the licence expires.

Det Sgt Sue Wilson, of Preston CID, said:

"First and foremost I would like to commend the two victims for their courage in coming forward and reporting what happened to them and for their bravery throughout the judicial process. I hope this sentence will mean that they can try to move forward with their lives knowing this dangerous predator is behind bars.

"I also hope that it may give other victims of sexual abuse the confidence to come forward and speak to police in the knowledge we will investigate professionally and with sensitivity and will look to prosecute offenders where we can."