A man has been jailed for a number of historical child sex assaults in Cumbria.

Roger David Cook, 50, committed the offences in the Appleby area in the late 1990s.

Last month he pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault against a girl under the age of 16.

Cook, formerly of the Isle of Skye, was handed a four-year sentence when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.

He has been registered as a sex offender indefinitely and was also given a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Adam Braniff, of North Cumbria CID, said: “Roger Cook is a sexual predator who isolated his victim in order to carry out his attacks.

“I would like to praise the victim for her courage in reporting what happened to her and assisting with our investigation.

“Cook’s actions had a significant effect on her childhood and her adult life. I hope that today’s sentencing can assist in her attempts to move on from this.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the public that all allegations of recent or non-recent sexual abuse will be investigated thoroughly by Cumbria police.”

If you wish to report a crime or speak to an officer about an incident, please contact Cumbria police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

If you have been affected by rape or sexual assault, contact The Bridgeway Sexual Assault Support Service’s 24/7 free helpline on 0808 118 6432.