A Netherfield man who was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl in a shop has been jailed.
Matthew Harrison, aged 32, targeted the child as she was shopping with her father at a store in Mansfield Road, Nottingham, at around 4pm on Sunday 16 January.
Harrison, who was working in the store at the time, lured the primary school aged child away from her father under the guise of helping her to find a favourite treat.
In the minutes that followed he twice place his hands on her before nonchalantly leading her back to her father.
Harrison, of Kenrick Street, was exposed when the child later told her parents about what had happened.
Harrison was arrested and an investigation was launched by Nottinghamshire Police.
A post-arrest search of his home revealed extensive evidence of his sexual interest in young children.
Harrison, whose offending was caught on CCTV, later admitted to two counts of sexual assault by touching.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday he was jailed for three years and ordered to serve another five years on licence.
He was also made the subject of an extensive sexual harm prevention order which will tightly control his behaviour when he leaves prison.
Detective Constable Kirsty Ford of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an appalling incident that cased considerable upset to the victim and her family. Harrison knew exactly what he was doing on that day and must now live with the consequences.
“As he starts a richly-deserved prison sentence I would like to pay tribute to the victim’s parents for the strength, determination and dignity they have shown through this incredibly upsetting process.
“I cannot stress enough just how seriously we treat these kinds of offences. When they are reported to us we will arrest suspects very quickly, we will investigate and we will do everything in our power to put them before the courts.”
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