Man who told girl abuse was 'their secret' jailed

At Sheffield Crown Court, Sean Gamble, 57, was given a sentence of 11 years

A man who sexually abused a girl and told her his actions were "their secret" more than three decades ago has been jailed.

Sean Gamble targeted the girl by befriending her and offering her cigarettes over several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s, South Yorkshire Police said.

The 57-year-old denied two counts of raping a girl under 16 and six counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 but was found guilty by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court in May.

Gamble, of Barnsley, was sentenced to 11 years in prison at the same court earlier.

The offences took place between 1989 and 1992, the force said, with Gamble also the subject of a restraining order, barred from working with children and required to register with police indefinitely.

Det Sgt Laura Clarke, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "I would like to commend her bravery of coming forward and reliving these awful experiences, which has resulted in Gamble being locked up for a long period of time.

"This sentence will not undo what Gamble subjected his victim to at the time of offending, and the years of emotional trauma after, but I hope it allows her to start to move forward with her life."

She added: "I hope this result shows that it is never too late to disclose if you are a victim of sexual offences."

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