Predator who 'stole a young girl's childhood' jailed for 22 years

Police say "no sentence will ever take away the trauma he was caused"

A paedophile who "stripped his victim of her childhood innocence" has been jailed for 22 years.

Martin Richards, 50, who is HIV-positive, raped a schoolgirl several times over two years, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Police say the former prison officer manipulated his victim into keeping quiet but was eventually caught when she confided in her mother.

Richards will also be on the sex offenders register for life.

Richards of Windsor Terrace, Choppington, was arrested in March and charged with a string of offences after the victim's mother reported him to the police.

Desperate to get his case dropped, Richards sent a number of letters to the victim's family while he was remanded in custody.

'Dangerous man'

Richards later appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and perverting the court of justice.

However, he denied rape, sexual assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity but was found guilty by a jury after standing trial.

An impact statement read out in court written by the victim's mother said: "Until we could be sure she didn't have HIV she had to take several tablets.

"She would get so distressed when taking them [that] she would be sick."

On Monday, Richards was jailed for 22 years and must serve two-thirds of his sentence behind bars.

He was also issued with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order.

Det Con Emma Hooker, of Northumbria Police's safeguarding department, said: "Richards is a dangerous man. He stripped his victim of her childhood innocence and abused her in the most horrific way.

"Instead of admitting his vile actions he stood trial, prolonging the proceedings for his victim. But eventually the jury saw through the lies."