Ballywalter paedophile name restriction lifted
The name of a paedophile who sexually assaulted a girl while he was out on bail on other charges can now be reported by the BBC.
Reporting restrictions were lifted by Downpatrick Crown Court.
David Patrick Sherlock, 57, from Ballywalter intentionally touched his victim sexually a number of times during a year long period.
He abused the girl around the same time he was also being prosecuted for having 33,000 indecent images of children.
Crown Court Judge David Smyth sentenced Sherlock to two and a half years in prison which was on top of the year he had already served for having the indecent images of children.
At a previous hearing, prosecution barrister Sean O'Kane said Sherlock who is now in back prison, was in the habit of giving his victim presents, jewellery, clothes and was indicative of grooming.
The abuse consisted of inappropriate hugging and tickling.
Sherlock is to remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.