The mother of a baby girl who was sexually abused by 30-year-old Michael John Brooke-Feather has suffered severe depression and unbelievable trauma, Truro Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Elaine Hobson said the mother was horrified when told by police officers what Brooke-Feather had done to the child.

“The child does not recall anything, but a great burden has been placed on her and the family,” she said.

Brooke-Feather, of Poltair Meadow, Penryn had pleaded guilty earlier to sexually assaulting the child, who was just short of her second birthday, and to 14 charges involving the making or possession of indecent images of children.

Jailing Brooke-Feather for two years and eight months, Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC told him: “You understand I have no alternative but to impose immediate custody.

“You took indecent photographs of a very young girl and it is perfectly clear from the mother’s statement that she has been caused huge distress. She feels there is a terrible burden on her not to tell her daughter.

“I am told you are appalled by your behaviour and want to change your sexual interests.”

Stressing that Brooke-Feather had no previous convictions, Maurice Champion, mitigating, pointed out that his having to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register would seriously curtail his ability to continue such interests.

Miss Hobson told the court that the police investigation was launched through Brooke-Feather’s paedophile network activities. It revealed he had had an interest in images of children up to the age of six years.

The charges involved all levels of seriousness and included extreme pornography.

When interviewed Brooke-Feather accepted responsibility for the images of the child which he had placed on a disc.

Judge Harvey Clark imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and instructed Brooke-Feather to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for the rest of his life.