A Hemel Hempstead man has been jailed after a "horrendous assault" that included throwing bleach over a young girl.
Dennis Dowton, from the Grovehill area, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years at St Albans Crown Court last week (May 21) after being found guilty of attempting to commit grievous bodily harm at a trial last month.
In October last year, the 29-year-old hit and suffocated the child and threw bleach on her skin.
Detective Constable Debbie West, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Joint Child Protection Investigation Team, said: “This was a horrendous assault against a defenceless and vulnerable child known to him.
“Dowton took no responsibility for his actions and put the victim’s family through the ordeal of a criminal trial.
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“I am pleased that the jury returned a guilty verdict and that Dowton will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars. He is evidently a dangerous offender and this was a complex and challenging investigation for our team of detectives.
“While nothing can undo the pain and anguish that he has caused, I hope the young girl and her family can move on with their lives when they are ready to do so.”
As well as the prison sentence, Dowton has been handed an indefinite restraining order.
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