A child rapist who subjected a young girl to repeated attacks has been jailed for 20 years — leaving his victim battling trauma long after the abuse ended.

Liam Martin, 33, of Cross Fell, Redcar, raped the schoolgirl on countless occasions beginning when she was just 12, during a campaign of prolonged sexual abuse.

He was convicted of;

– Rape of a child under 13

– Three counts of raping a child aged between 13 and 15 years.

– Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13, where the offender was aged over 18 years

– Causing/inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity

– Voyeurism

He denied wrongdoing. But a jury found him guilty after an investigation by Cleveland Police, supported by the survivor’s evidence.

At Teesside Crown Court, her statement exposed the lasting devastation:

“He has stolen my childhood from me and I will never get that back.”

She described being unable to leave home after speaking to police, fearing flashbacks and struggling to discuss what he had done.

The court heard Martin had ignored her refusal and raped her.

Alongside his 20-year prison sentence, Martin received a sexual harm prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

DC Melanie Phelps praised the survivor’s bravery in reporting the abuse years after it ended. She said Martin’s repeated attacks had left the child traumatised and frightened for years.

Police described him as dangerous and said specialist officers would closely monitor him after his eventual release.

Twenty years behind bars for Martin. A stolen childhood his victim can never get back.