A paedophile who used his position as a member of the Battersea Church community to abuse a young girl has been jailed for ten years.

Carl Johnson, 53, of Bowen Drive in Upper Sydenham, abused the girl in the early 1990s when she was a young teenager.

Johnson groomed the victim, exploiting his position in the Battersea Church community, eventually progressing to multiple sexual offences.

The victim came forward in 2014 to tell Met Police about the abuse and the investigation immediately started.

Johnson was found guilty on August 25 at Kingston Crown Court of eight counts of indecent assault after a five-day trial.

He was sentenced at the same court today (September 28) to ten years behind bars.

DS Amanda Kearsley, of the child abuse and sexual offences command, said: “Johnson is a predatory offender who deliberately targeted a vulnerable child.

“This has been a long and emotional process for the complainant. I would like to praise her courage and commitment to making sure Johnson was convicted. She has ensured he is no longer a risk to other young people."