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A REDDITCH man has been convicted of a series of sex attacks on children and rape.

Michael Allen, aged 42, was standing trial at Worcester Crown Court for assaults on 11 children and three adults.

The 42-year-old, of Quibery Close, was found guilty by jury on 22 charges, one of rape on a girl when she was just eleven years old, five of indecent assault, and 16 charges of sexual assault on children. He was found not guilty on two other rape charges, one on a boy.

Allen, who had been of previous good character, stood emotionless in the dock as the guilty verdicts were read out. The paedophile committed the acts all between 1988 and May 2007 and his crimes only came to light when a young girl who was assaulted came forward to police.

The trial heard countless evidence from youngsters, some from behind a screen and others on video of how he had assaulted them. Many of the victims were under 10 years old when Allen carried out the acts on them.

Patrick Thomas, prosecuting, read evidence of how specially trained police officers interviewed the youngsters to piece together Allen's crimes. Mr Thomas said Allen had used his own children to lure youngsters to have sleepovers at his home and he often slept besides them before committing the acts, which included feeling their genitals and exposing himself.

He said a search of Allen's computer also showed child pornography, despite an attempt to eradicate the porn using special software.

One of the youngsters said in a statement: "When I slept I would wake up and he is next to me. Then he would start touching me."

Prior to the trial Allen had admitted eight lesser charges admitting he had touched some children in a sexual way but only over their clothes.

In defence he had denied the gravity of the assaults saying that the stories were complete fabrications.

Judge Andrew Geddes adjourned sentencing for at least six weeks for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service and a psychiatric report to be prepared.

4:53pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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