EXCLUSIVE: Paedophile who tried to kill himself is jailed for more than two years

A paedophile, who tried to take his own life after he was arrested for sexually abusing two young girls has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Alan Hine, 54, from Abbey Field View, Colchester, in Essex, abused the girls, who were aged just four and six when the abuse happened, over over a four-month period between January 1 and April 30 this year in Colchester. In June he pleaded guilty at Colchester Magistrates' Court to intentionally inciting the two young girls to touch him in a sexual manner. He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court this month.

Hine was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order which prevents him from having any contact or communication of any kind, with any female child under the age of 16, other than with the consent of the child’s parent or guardian who has full knowledge of his convictions and with the express written approval of social services for the area in which the child resides.

He was also made to pay a victim surcharge of £181.

Hine tried to kill himself ahead of the case and was nearly successful was saved.

A record of the magistrates court case said: "He has tried to take his own life and very nearly succeeded."