A March man has been found guilty of seven charges of sexually assaulting a child and one of attempted child rape.

Cambs Times: Gary Crane has been found guilty of eight charges of assault and rape of a child under the age of 13 PHOTO: ContributedGary Crane has been found guilty of eight charges of assault and rape of a child under the age of 13 PHOTO: Contributed (Image: Archant)

Paedophile Gary Crane will be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (31).

A jury found Crane, of Hunters Chase, guilty following a trial.

They found him guilty of two attempted rapes of a child under 13, four counts of sexual assault on a female under the age of 13.

He was also found guilty of three assaults of a child under 13 by penetration.

The full list he was found guilty of is:

• Sexual assault of a child under 13.

• Assault of a child under 13 by penetration.

• Assault of a child under 13 by penetration.

• Attempted rape of a child under 13.

• Assault of a child under 13 by penetration.

• Sexual assault of a child under 13.

• Sexual assault of a child under 13.

• Sexual assault of a child under 13.

• Attempted rape of a child under 13.

The number of child sex offences recorded in the UK has risen by almost a fifth according to figures obtained from the police by children’s charity the NSPCC.

Police recorded crimes against UK children including rape, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation.

These include:

• 13,565 crimes against children aged 10 and under.

• 2,799 crimes against children yet to attend primary school.

The NSPCC said the rise could be due to police forces improving methods for recording offences.

They also said young people may feel more confident in disclosing abuse following high-profile cases.

An NSPCC spokesman said that online grooming is becoming a major problem for perpetrators reaching multiple children.

The exact number of sex offences committed in the UK remains unknown.

Children may not have come forward because they’re frightened, ashamed, or don’t realise they’ve been abused, they added.

• The NSPCC is running a Speak out Stay safe programme designed to encourage children to tell if they are suffering abuse.

• Delivered by specially trained staff and volunteers, Speak out Stay safe assemblies and workshops give children the knowledge and understanding they need to stay safe from abuse.

• The NSPCC says more must be done to protect children. The charity is calling for specialist training for police investigating online child abuse and investment in early intervention services to help children recover.

• The NSPCC also want to see effective rehabilitation for child sex offenders to prevent them from hurting more children.