Man sentenced to 16 years in jail for 'grievously serious' rape of girl, 8

A 55-year-old man who raped a girl between the ages of eight and nine has been jailed for 16 years for the "utterly disgraceful" crime.

The victim feels her life has been "blighted" by the offences, all of which happened between 1989 and 1991, Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London was told.

Glen Lewis, of Retreat Place, Hackney, east London, was found guilty of five counts of rape and one of indecency with a child at a trial last month, having denied all the charges against him.

Sentencing him to a total of 16 years for rape, and giving him an 18-month sentence for indecency, which will run concurrently, Judge David Radford said they were "grievously serious" offences with devastating effects for the victim.

He told Lewis: "They were simply offences committed to satisfy your own lust.

"They were utterly disgraceful and had the most serious consequences on the victim."

Judge Radford said Lewis remained a potential danger to any woman or young person.

He added: "These were grievously serious offences of their kind, given the age of the victim and the impact these offences have had on her whole life."

Shauna Ritchie, prosecuting, read a summary of the victim's personal statement, which described "how the abuse she suffered as a child has had a profound effect on her".

Now in her 30s, the victim said she was "terrified" of Lewis and that the crimes had affected her relationship with men, Miss Ritchie said. She has also suffered from depression, the court heard.

"This is something that she feels has blighted all of her life," said Miss Ritchie.

Lewis, who has previously served a prison sentence for manslaughter, was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.

PA