(Image: Cleveland Police)
A child rapist who repeatedly abused a girl has been jailed for 20 years.
Liam Martin, 33, raped the girl on countless occasions during a campaign of sexual abuse.
Prosecutor Jonathan Walker told Teesside Crown Court the victim reported the attacks years after they ended.
In a victim impact statement, she said: “He has stolen my childhood from me and I will never get that back.”
She said the abuse left her unable to leave home after she spoke to police because she feared flashbacks and struggled to talk about what happened.
Martin, of Cross Fell, Redcar, was found guilty of multiple rapes, sexual activity in the presence of a child, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and voyeurism.
Defending, Paul Newcombe said Martin had been held on a segregated wing while on remand and would find prison difficult.
Recorder Andrew Dallas sentenced Martin to 20 years in prison, followed by a one-year extended licence period.
He told Martin that his abuse had severely affected the victim’s life.
“You embarked on a systematic course of serious sexual abuse,” he said.
“You forced yourself upon her having ignored her refusal and raped her."
Martin was handed a sexual harm prevention order.
Speaking after sentencing, officer in the case DC Melanie Phelps said: “It took a great deal of bravery for this survivor to come forward and report what they’d gone through as a child.”
“Martin carried out repeated sexual assaults and rapes, leaving the vulnerable child traumatised and afraid for many years.
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“He denied any wrong-doing, however thanks to the survivor supporting our complex investigation we were able to present compelling evidence at court and the jury found Liam Martin guilty.
“I hope the sentence he received will now bring a degree of closure and enable this young person to continue to rebuild their life, knowing he is behind bars for a long time.
“Martin is a dangerous individual who is now on the sex offenders’ register and even after his eventual release from prison, he’ll be closely monitored by specialist officers.
“Finally, I want to reassure anyone else who has been victim of sexual offences - whether recent or non-recent - that if you’re ready to report we are here for you; we will listen to you, we will believe you and we will support you.”