A man who raped a girl, nine, and then gave her Roblox credits was handed a 13 year sentence – a judge said Jason Harkness had a ‘deviant sexual interest in children’
A man who was convicted of a string of sex offences including the rape of a nine-year-old girl has been handed a 13 year sentence.
A judge said Jason Harkness indicated he had a “deviant sexual interest in children”. Harkness, 31, was jailed for 15 offences including raping and sexually assaulting the girl, as well as possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornographic images.
He was convicted by a jury in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, in November last year. During the trial, the jury heard Harkness’ grim offences emerged when the girl, who is not related to him, became upset during a well-being lesson in school in September 2021 and made disclosures to a teacher.
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An investigation was then launched at the PSNI spoke with the child in December 2021. She revealed she was exposed to abuse over a period from 2019 to 2021. Part of the abuse included being raped and sexually abused when she was nine, Belfast Live reports.
Harkness was arrested in March 2022. Officers seized a number of electronic devices during the search and officers located over 1,000 indecent images as well four extreme pornographic images.
Harkness denied any wrongdoing against the child, who was called to give evidence during the trial. She said Harkness assaulted her and threatened her with further violence when she complained about the sexual abuse.
Regarding the rape, the child said it “felt horrible” and that is hurt her. She also said she told Harkness to stop “over and over again”, but he told her to be quiet and carried on. After his sick act, he gave the child credits for the online game platform Roblox.
The jury returned unanimously guilty verdicts on all 15 charges levelled at Harkness. At Dungannon Crown Court, Judge Brian Sherrard divided the 13 year sentence equally between prison and supervised licence.
Judge Sherrard told him he has a “deviant sexual interest in children” and that he used the victim to fulfil his “deviant sexual needs.”
Harkness was also told he will be on the Sex Offenders Register and will be the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. Both of these court orders are for an indefinite period.