A YOUNG man who took sexual photos of a sleeping child for about half-an-hour has been jailed for 15 months.

Damian Andrew Pearson, 27, went into the room where the underage child was sleeping at midnight, exposed their private parts and photographed them about 20 times with his mobile phone, York Crown Court was told.

Giles Bridge, prosecuting, said his actions in the bedroom of a North Yorkshire home woke the child.

He said the child thought at the time it may be a dream, but then realised that it was really happening.

When Pearson left, the child was too terrified to go back to sleep and spent the rest of the night watching television – but later told a friend, after which the offence came to the attention of the police.

The court was told that in a bid to remove the evidence, Pearson reset his phone, deleting the pictures, before he was arrested.

Pearson, of Valley View, Esh Winning, near Durham, denied charges of sexual assault and taking indecent photos, but was convicted by a jury following a trial at the court, last month.

Chloe Fairley, in mitigation, said Pearson had been highly regarded when he used to work with adults with learning disabilities before he moved to a new address.

“He’s a young man who has been hardworking.

“He is someone who can be an immense credit to the community,” she added.

She urged Judge Simon Hickey that it was a case where a suspended sentence could be passed.

But, jailing him for 15 months, Judge Hickey told Pearson: “Unfortunately, I take the view in your case, given there was a trial in this case, it must be an immediate custodial sentence.”

Due to the conviction and length of sentence, Pearson will now also be subject to registration as a sex offender for a period of ten years.