A builder who continued sexually abusing a girl despite her attempts to stop him has been jailed for nine years.

Robert Miller, 58, left his victim struggling with depression, anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares — while he initially behaved as though nothing had happened.

Miller, formerly of Walkington, near Beverley, and later of Riplingham Road, Cottingham, admitted sexual assault of a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He had been due to stand trial in August but only changed his pleas to guilty on the day of the scheduled trial.

Hull Crown Court heard that the girl tried to stop Miller, but he carried on.

Afterwards, she felt horrified and disgusted by what he had done. When she confronted him about the lifelong consequences, Miller apologised and said he did not know what to say.

The court heard that the abuse left her feeling ashamed, confused and violated. In her victim statement, she described daily depression and anxiety, alongside recurring nightmares and flashbacks.

The psychological harm continued to seriously disrupt her everyday life.

Miller answered no comment to every question during his police interview. He had no previous convictions.

Miller was sentenced to nine years in prison, given a 10-year restraining order and ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.