Man sentenced for sexual offences against children

Michael Strang, aged 52, of Witton Park, Stockton on Tees, was found guilty by unanimous jury at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday of one count of inciting a girl under 14 years of age to commit an act of gross indecency and one count of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offence of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity took place in Oxford between August 2005 and August 2007.

The offence of inciting a girl under 14 years of age to commit an act of gross indecency took place in Milton Keynes between September 1990 and December 1991.

He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for the Milton Keynes offence and three years’ imprisonment for the Oxford offence, which will run consecutively.

He was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining orders.

Investigating officer Det Con Marcus Miller, from Bletchley Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Strang made the victims go through the process of giving evidence in a trial and claimed they had colluded with each other to make up the offences.

“A jury found this was certainly not the case - they did not know each other - and returned guilty verdicts on both counts in just 23 minutes.

“Strang’s actions have had a lasting impact on the victims and their families. I commend their bravery in supporting the case and hope the sentence helps them to be able to move on from this distressing part of their lives.”