Rapist bragged about scarring child for life

Stephen Fish was found guilty of offences including rape

A child rapist who bragged he was scarring his young victim for life while he abused them has been jailed for 15 years.

Stephen Fish, 28, had previously been warned about having sex with an underage girl before he groomed, abused and raped another child, Durham Crown Court heard.

Judge Nathan Adams said the abuse was "horrific" and made "particularly disturbing" by Fish's comments, which showed he knew "full well" the impact he was having on the victim.

Fish, from Grange Villa near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, had denied wrongdoing but was found guilty of seven sex offences against a child under the age of 13, including rape.

As he abused his victim, Fish, of West Street, told them he was scarring them for life, Judge Adams said.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said they had may have been "scarred for life" but they would "never be broken" by Fish.

They said they had daily flashbacks of the "nightmare" abuse and their life had been "irreparably changed", adding: "I will likely never be able to have a truly normal life."

But, they said, they got "solace" from Fish being convicted and jailed, adding he would be "unable to hurt any innocent children" again.

'Offender of particular concern'

Judge Adams told Fish: "It's horrific to read out and recite the abuse that took place because you still deny any of this took place."

He said the abuse would have a "lifelong" effect on the victim and Fish's comments were "particularly disturbing" as they showed he knew "full well" what he was doing would have an impact on the victim.

The judge said Fish had been "warned" before about abusing children, having got a caution for having sex with an underage teenage girl when he was 17.

Fish was deemed an "offender of particular concern" and must serve a further year on extended licence upon his release from prison.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for life.