Paedophile Sentenced For Historic Crimes

A paedophile snatched four little girls from Newcastle and Hampshire in the 1980s and 1990s, sexually abused them and then dumped them, a court has heard.

Balding grandfather David Bryant, 65, from Ulverston, Cumbria was being sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for four terrifying, separate attacks on victims in Hampshire and Tyneside.

He has admitted four counts of kidnap and four counts of sexual assault after cold-case detectives made a DNA link to catch him, 30 years after he first struck.

In the first case in the early 1980s he grabbed a girl aged five who was playing outside her Hampshire home from under the nose of her mother.

The following year a three year old was snatched as she played with other children in Southampton.

Bryant had offered to show her some puppies, took her to woods and sexually abused her.

Speaking as an adult, she said:

''When I hear an ice cream van playing its music I am left with chills all over my body. I am left remembering what happened to me at a very young age.''

Mr Giuliani said Hampshire Police detectives began a cold-case review of the sex attacks and through DNA advances, tracked down the predator, having eliminated three of his male relatives from their inquiries.

Sentencing has been adjourned until a later date to allow further reports into Bryant's state of mind to be prepared.

Judge James Goss, the Recorder of Newcastle, told Bryant he hoped to pass sentence in a week.

''I am sincerely hoping it will not be long before this case can be completed,'' the judge said.