A child molester who randomly attacked a five-year-old girl playing in the street has been jailed indefinitely for the protection of the public.

Ordering that Ian Gulliver should stay in prison until the parole board decided it was safe to release him, a judge said he had to have regard to a “cluster” of other assaults in the same area which did not lead to charges.

The incidents, involving seven victims aged five to 10, he said, were considered when assessing dangerousness.

Gulliver, of Nelson Road, Gillingham, will serve a minimum of two-and-a-half years before his release is considered.

The 40-year-old was convicted by a jury last month of sexual assault, but continues to protest his innocence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Gulliver had two previous convictions in 1983 and 1985 for indecent assault on young girls, when he was a teenager.

Judge Charles MacDonald, QC, told Gulliver that despite the jury’s verdict, he continued to maintain his innocence, adding: “You have no insight into your offending.”

The judge warned there was a danger Gulliver would offend again.

He said:“I have no doubt there is a significant risk some future victim of yours will suffer serious harm,”

For full report see Monday's print edition of the Medway Messenger