Michael Harry Costar, a Paedophile forklift truck driver from Blackburn, has commenced a four-year prison sentence for grooming and sexually abusing a young girl in Belfast.
Michael Harry Costar, residing on Tenby Close, was apprehended by law enforcement in Lancaster for the offence committed last year.
Detectives sought him for interrogation on persistent sexual offence charges involving a minor under the age of 16 in the capital of Northern Ireland.
Michael Harry Costar made a brief appearance initially before Belfast City Magistrates’ Court, charged with five related offences, concerning dates between December 2009 and December 2012, in March last year.
Michael Harry Costar, now 52, eventually pleaded guilty to 29 offences involving grooming and sexual abuse of the girl, and he was jailed for four years by Judge Patrick Lynch KC at Belfast Crown Court.
Michael Harry Costar will also be subject to a seven-year sexual offences prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Speaking at the time of Michael Harry Costar’s arrest, DI Judith Hamill, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s public protection branch, said: “As a police service, safeguarding children and locating potential offenders of these crimes remains a top priority.
“Those who seek to harm children in this way in Northern Ireland should be fearful of the consequence of their actions.”
Michael Harry Costar is reported to have made contact with the girl, who was only 13, via a social media network when he was aged 39.
Police said then, following online grooming, he sexually abused his victim during several visits to Belfast.
Michael Harry Costar was later caught with indecent images of the girl on his arrest.
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