Jail for social worker who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl » Communities » 24dash.com

A social worker was jailed for 16 months today for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

Kevin Mence, 42, from near King's Lynn, Norfolk, rubbed the girl's leg as he watched a film with her and later kissed her as she sat on a toilet.

Mence admitted the two counts of sexual assault, which came to light when the victim told her brother in June what had happened.

Appearing at Norwich Crown Court, Mence also admitted possessing more than 500 indecent images of children and also to distributing pornographic material.

The court heard Mence had given the girl some chocolate and diet Coke before following her to a toilet at an address where he had met her and kissing her on the lips. He was wearing a dressing gown with his erect penis exposed.

Mence told the girl not to tell her mother about the incident, saying: "It's a secret."

Following his arrest Mence told police he recognised he "had a problem" and had looked into getting help from a group called Sex Addicts Anonymous.

"I recognise that I am a paedophile because I look at pictures of children being abused," he told detectives.

Catherine Moore, mitigating, said Mence had lost "everything he held dear", including his family, his profession, his friends, his house and his "standing in the community".

"He could not have behaved more responsibly since the offences were committed," she said.

Sentencing Mence to a total of 16 months in prison, Judge Alasdair Darroch said: "Here was a young, vulnerable girl. You obviously followed her into the bathroom for your own sexual gratification."

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Matt Sharman, of Norfolk Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team, said Mence was working as an adult social worker in Cambridgeshire at the time of his arrest last summer.

He said Mence had previously worked with children as a social worker in Norfolk.

"I am really pleased he decided to plead guilty so the victim didn't have to come to court," said Mr Sharman. "Our thoughts are with the victim."

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said Mence resigned last month from his position as an adult social worker.

"He worked for us for about a year," the spokesman said.

"We would emphasise that the allegations had nothing to do with Cambridgeshire."

Lisa Christensen, director of children's services at Norfolk County Council, said: "Kevin Mence did work for children's social services in Norfolk between October 2001 and March 2004.

"He then transferred to adult social services, working there for almost a year before leaving Norfolk County Council. Full references and checks were carried out before he took up post in Norfolk and no concerns were raised about his conduct during his time here.

"Crimes of this nature are rare, particularly when they are committed by people employed in a trusted position. All of those who apply to work with children are thoroughly vetted before taking up their post."