A PAEDOPHILE who groomed a schoolgirl crept in through her bedroom window at night while her parents were asleep to have sex.

Army cadet instructor Liam Smith was yesterday condemned by a judge for his "wicked" crimes as he was locked up for ten years.

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The 23-year-old treated the youngster to gifts of chocolates and sweets and bought her an iPod so they could speak on social media.

He also gave her a photograph and an anniversary card to celebrate their relationship lasting a week, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Their secret meetings came to light when the girl's mother found a hand-written note and the iPod in a bedroom drawer.

When Smith was arrested and interviewed he described feeling "weird" about what had been going on.

He later confessed to visiting the child's home late at night while her parents were asleep, and being allowed in through a window.

Smith told detectives he communicated with her on Facebook, Snapchat and Face Time with her using the £120 iPod.

Three selfie photographs of the pair of them in bed - one showing them naked from the waist up - were found on the device.

Mr Cleasby described the offending as "prolonged, sustained and targeted" and said there had been "a degree of planning".

In an impact statement, the girl's mother said she had changed from happy to sad, and now struggles to trust anyone.

"She seems to be sceptical about everybody's intentions towards her," the mum added. "It's like she's constantly pushing people away.

"The whole thing has had a horrible effect on her and the family. I just hope she can move on and get over this and trust again."

Smith admitted five charges of rape, two of sexual assault, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and grooming.

His barrister, Jim Withyman, said it was worrying that Smith seems to be surprised by people's attitudes towards what he has done.

"He has obviously persuaded himself it is acceptable to breach many moral lines, but he is talking about that," he said.

"A more dangerous offender of this nature is one who says he doesn't have a problem or still denies the matter."

Judge Peter Armstrong imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricts Smith's computer use and bans him from having unsupervised contact with under-16s.

He told Smith, of Oak Grove, Hartlepool, he had committed "horrendous" offences, and added: "You behaviour was manipulative."

The judge said: "It is difficult to think, sometimes, of more serious offences than the rape of a child, and condign punishment must, therefore, follow."