James Freeman, 49, targeted Rebekah from the age of 10.

Brave Rebekah, now 19, waived her anonymity to expose vile Freeman

The attacks continued until the brave youngster went to police when she was 15 but she revealed her mum persuaded her to retract her statement so all charges against Freeman were dropped.

But she finally unmasked the paedophile after convincing her mother to listen in on a call where he confessed to the years of abuse.

The pervert laughed last month after a jury convicted him of sexual assault and two rapes at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Judge Simon Collins QC said: “Your actions showed that you groomed her and your actions also show that you are responsible for a gross and prolonged violation of the position of trust that you had found yourself in.

“Clearly a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal available to this court.”

A jury heard how he first sexually assaulted Rebekah at a caravan park in Sutherland, Caithness when she was aged just 10.

He raped her on various occasions at addresses in Aberdeen, Banff and the north of Scotland when she was 11 or 12.

He also raped her, on various occasions, while she was between 13 and 15, at locations in Banff, Nairn and a derelict building in Portsoy.

The court heard how Freeman pushed and held the child down on a bed, tied her arms together, blindfolded her and raped her.

Freeman will also be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release from custody.

Rebekah said last month: “He ruined my life. He took my childhood away from me. Every single person on the jury found him guilty.

“When I first told my family I felt no one believed me. Everyone sided with James, no one was there for me.”