Alan Copeland: Nottinghamshire paedophile jailed for repeated sexual abuse of ‘innocent child’
“Copeland has been exposed as a danger to young girls”
A Nottinghamshire man who repeatedly sexually abused an “innocent child” has been jailed.
Alan Copeland, 59, began abusing the young girl almost a decade ago, telling her to keep what happened a secret.
The girl revealed Copeland’s crimes after telling her family when she was old enough to understand the abuse.
He was found guilty of three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity on September 6.
Copeland, of Third Avenue in Rainworth, “angrily” denied the charges but was found guilty after a two-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court and jailed for six years.
A jury heard video testimony from the girl and was also made aware of two similar convictions against Copeland dating back to the 1990s.
Det Con Gemma Sidebottom, who led the investigation, said the prosecution’s success came down to the girl’s “meticulous[ly] detail[ed]” testimony, due to a lack of physical evidence.
‘Danger to young girls’
Copeland was added to the sex offenders’ register and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, which restricts his access to young people.
Det Con Sidebottom added: “Copeland is an unrepentant sex offender who thought he could abuse an innocent child with impunity, but he clearly hadn’t reckoned on the bravery and determination of his victim.
“Thanks to her, Copeland has been exposed as a danger to young girls and will now spend a considerable amount of time in prison.”