Paedophile fitness instructor Anthony Beardsley preyed on a vulnerable young girl before sexually abusing her on multiple occasions.
Twisted Beardsley offered his victim extra exercise classes away from the Leeds fitness centre at which he worked but used the opportunity to carry out his campaign of grooming.
Leeds Crown Court heard the 44-year-old took his victim to a park multiple times where he made her do “unspeakable things” at his own home while his wife and children were out between January and September 2020.
Suspicions were raised when the girl’s dad read a series of texts on his daughter’s phone from Beardsley intimating that they were arranging to meet up.
When Beardsley was booked in at a police station he asked if he could just admit his offending there and then as he wanted to rebuild his life.
Judge Graham Reeds QC told Beardsley he found it hard to believe that it was the young girl who had attached herself to him and said it was “clear grooming behaviour” and that he could have prevented it.
Beardsley, of St John’s Road, Leeds, admitted 13 counts of sexual activity with a child and had suffered reactive depression as a result of the case brought against him.
He was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
