A PAEDOPHILE ordered to attend a sex offenders programme carried out a sickening attack on a five-year-old girl after his treatment was cancelled.

Daniel Veness was ordered to receive treatment after being caught with 600 vile child porn pictures on his computer - but because of a lack of funds the scheme was shelved.

Jailing the 23-year-old for two years and eight months for his latest crime Judge David Goodin branded him a danger to young girls.

He added that it was “a matter of great regret” that two years in to a three year order the treatment programme had not started.

He said this was initially because Veness had been on holiday but since then he had been given two start dates in March and October 2012 which had been cancelled because of “insufficient resources”.

Last night the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the case was “distressing” adding that it was vital the treatment is carried out.

Sitting at Ipswich Crown Court yestreday Judge Goodin said the Thames Valley Treatment Programme had been an important part of a three year community order imposed at Ipswich Court in March 2011 after the indecent images were found on Veness’s computer.

“This is a programme of high repute which is known to have some effect,” he said.

Veness’s barrister Andrew Thompson said it was unfortunate that his client had not received any help from the programme. “We will never know if it would have directed him away from the behaviour that has brought him back before the court,” he said.

Stuart Macdonald, director of Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Trust, said an investigation had been launched in to the case.

“Our thoughts are with the victim and family at this incredibly difficult time. It would be wrong to comment further at this stage as the case is yet to be fully investigated.

All cases involving a serious further offence are reviewed robustly and rigorously by Norfolk and Suffolk Probation Trust and the National Offender Management Service. Where deficiencies in the management of risk of serious harm are identified, action is taken to address these.”

Veness was arrested in January this year after a friend told police he had seen indecent pictures of naked girls on Veness’s mobile phone.

When the phone was examined officers found 46 indecent images of children and film footage Veness had taken of himself sexually assaulting the five-year-old while she was asleep.

Veness, of St George’s Road, Lowestoft, admitted sexual touching, two offences of taking indecent pictures of a child, downloading indecent images of children, breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and failing to notify police of a change in his address under the terms of the Sex Offenders’ Register.

In addition to jailing him for two years and eight months Judge Goodin imposed an extended licence period of three years because of the danger he represented to young girls. Veness was also ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register and made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order.

The court heard that in November 2008 Veness has been given a caution for sexual activity with a girl under the age of 13.

Jon Brown, Head of strategy and development for sexual abuse at the NSPCC said: “This is a distressing case where an offender has been convicted twice and the level of abuse since his first conviction has clearly escalated. In these cases it is vital that treatment should always be carried out to prevent further abuse.

“We hope the victims have also been provided with support and treatment to help them through their traumatic experiences.

“If you are an adult and you have concerns about the safety of a child, you can call the NSPCC’s helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you are a child and you are worried about your safety, you can call ChildLine on 0800 1111.”