Judge praises 'courageous' Rochdale paedophile

A judge has caused controversy after calling a paedophile 'courageous' for pleading guilty to the abuse of an 11-year old girl.

Brent Knowles, 34, from Rochdale, pleaded guilty to a child sex charge, prompting Judge Maureen Roddy to 'accept that was a courageous act'.

Knowles, 34, offered cash to his victim to keep quiet about the abuse. She was too scared to tell anyone of her suffering and started to misbehave at school, eventually getting expelled.

Knowles was exposed when the girl finally told a relative of her ordeal.

Knowles has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison and put on the sex offenders register.