Paedophile caught by victim’s mother as he raped child under 13 in the hallway of their house had been given suspended sentence for possessing child abuse images a year earlier
A pedophile who was caught red-handed by the victim's mother when he raped the young child in the hallway of her home was allowed to walk free by a judge a year earlier, it has emerged.
Damien Riddle turned out to be every parent's worst nightmare after he groomed his victim via social media, sold photos of the child online and then raped them at their family home in south-west London from July to August this year.
The vile 40-year-old was spared jail after admitting three charges of indecent images at Inner London Crown Court last year.
He was given a second chance on April 20, 2022, with a 16-month prison sentence suspended for two years, despite police finding the worst form of intrusive child abuse content on his devices in February 2020.
He then posed as a 15-year-old boy in July this year to ensnare a young child on social media, Kingston Crown Court heard.
Damien Riddle, 40, was caught by their mother raping a child in the hallway of their home, just a year after being released from prison for possessing indecent images
Riddle told his victim about the depraved sex acts he wanted the child to perform on him before prompting the child to send indecent photos, which he later sold online, the court heard.
On August 16, Riddle, from south London, came to the victim's home and forced the child to perform a sex act, but their mother later opened the door.
She found Riddle there at around 4.30am standing naked with the victim and about to take a shower, the court heard.
Mr Williams said: '[The victim] said [Riddle] was there to get a glass of water. The defendant stuttered and said he was going to drop off a bicycle for Nick. There was no Nick. The suspect then fled through someone's front garden.'
The victim later told police that Riddle forced them to perform a sex act. DNA swabs later confirmed Riddle was present at the property.
Police tracked down Riddle, after assistance from the victim's family, and he was arrested. In a candid interview he admitted everything, but claimed he thought the victim was 16.
A search of Riddle's home in Lambeth revealed devices with a stash of 91 indecent images, including one Category A image, the worst kind, 88 Category B, and two Category C, none of which were of the victim.
Analysis of his hard drives also found he had breached the terms of a sexual harm prevention order, preventing him from changing his search history or using incognito mode.
Riddle pleaded guilty to two charges of rape of a child under 13, incitement to sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, commission of a child sex offence, three charges of possessing indecent images of children, for categories A, B and C, and breach of a sexual harm prevention order. He also admitted breaching the suspended sentence imposed last year.
In an impact statement, the victim said: 'Since I was groomed by the man, I can no longer trust other people. I often feel scared, even when I'm with my friends. I no longer have social media accounts. I don't trust men anymore.
'I have become very angry and my mother has had serious mental health problems since it happened… I just want everything to go back to normal. I often wake up at night feeling panicked and scared, and I can't breathe, like I'm suffocating.”
The victim also said that they are now running away from men who wear glasses and that the family has moved away.
'I feel dirty most days and need a bath more than before to feel clean. I want everything to go back to normal,” they said. 'Our lives will never be the same again. Most days I feel like my life is ruined.”
Riddle's attorney Soraya Lawrence said, “He has been outspoken in interviews and disclosed other things he did not have to do that carried additional charges… He expresses his extreme remorse for his actions and his expressed desire to get help to tackle his problems. behaviour.'
Riddle was given a prison sentence of 12 years and three months plus a further three years suspended due to his 'real risk' to children at Kingston Crown Court
Ms Lawrence also argued there was no medical evidence of serious psychological harm.
However, Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey disagreed, saying: 'They have had to move, they have lost friends, they have lost part of his education. Are you really suggesting that moving a child will not cause serious psychological damage?'
“It's clear to me that you're taking advantage [the victim] has had a very significant effect on them,” Judge Tregilgas-Davey concluded.
'In relation to both [rapes] it seems to me indisputable [the victim] has suffered serious psychological damage. It seems to me that this is a clear inference from the victim statement and the witnesses. I don't hesitate.'
Riddle was jailed for 12 years and three months, with a further three years suspended due to his 'real risk' to children.
Judge Tregilgas-Davey sentenced him to 11 years and three months each for concurrent execution of counts 1 and 2, both oral rape of a child under 13.
He punished breach of a suspended sentence, item 10, with a further 12 months' imprisonment. He did not give a separate penalty for points 4 to 9.
He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and must comply with a new sexual harm prevention order.