Hathern man jailed after sexually abusing girl for 10 years

Mark Birch was jailed for 18 years at Leicester Crown Court

A man has been jailed after sexually abusing a girl for 10 years.

Mark Birch, 54, began taking advantage of his young victim in the late 1990s, when she was six years old.

As the years progressed, the level of abuse "intensified", resulting in him raping her on several occasions, Leicestershire Police said.

The abuse ended 10 years later, and Birch apologised to the victim in person before denying he did anything wrong to detectives, the force added.

The victim - now an adult - came forward to police in 2020.

Birch was interviewed and denied his victim's claims, but on Tuesday he was found guilty of 16 charges following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

The charges included rape, indecent assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Birch, of Loughborough Road, Hathern, Leicestershire, was sentenced to 18 years in prison with an extended licence period of two years on Wednesday.

'Great courage'

Det Sgt Anna Blockley said: "There can be no mistake, Birch committed his crimes solely to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

"His victim was just six when the abuse began. As an adult, he took full advantage of her innocence and she had to grow up continuing to suffer the effects of what he had done.

"She has shown great courage and strength throughout the investigation, including giving evidence in front of a jury at court."