Landlord who made 15-year-old 'pay' for rent with sex jailed

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Legal

A landlord who coerced a 15-year-old girl into sex as a form of rent payment has been jailed for four years.

John Tatton, 72, was convicted of five offences of sexual activity with a child and one offence of sexual assault after a five-day trial at Bolton Crown Court.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that the victim had been having difficulties at home at the time and had moved into a house in Heywood, Rochdale where she lived with a number of other girls who had "chaotic lifestyles" involving alcohol, drugs and eventual sexual exploitation.

Tatton, of Mynors Street, Stoke-on-Trent, owned the house, and told the girl that she would have to pay him with sexual favours if she wished to continue living there.

The girl was initially reluctant but was finally coerced by Tatton, who abused her repeatedly over the course of six months.

Around this time the victim was also being abused by a group of men who were eventually convicted and sentenced to a total of 77 years as part of GMP's Operation Span investigation into child sex abuse in Rochdale.

Detective Constable Dave South, of the Sexual Crimes Unit, said: "Tatton is a sexual predator who took complete advantage of a vulnerable teenage girl.

"He subjected her to a campaign of abuse over a six month period, during which she was forced to submit to him to 'pay' for her rent.

"Tatton is clearly a danger to young people and I hope today's sentence provides a level of reassurance to his victim."

Tatton was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.