Rapist caged for 12-years after abusing schoolgirl

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a young girl in Blackpool has been jailed for 12 years '“ more than a decade after carrying out the attacks.
Court story.Court story.
Court story.

Robert Griffiths, 65, whose address cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, admitted rape along with 12 counts of indecent assault, and will serve a one year extended licence period.

Three further counts will lie on the file.

His victim, who bravely confronted her attacker years later, had recorded a phone call to him a few days before reporting the incidents to Lancashire Police.

She attended court with her relatives to see justice done.

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The attacks took place at an address in Blackpool against a schoolgirl, Preston’s Sessions House Court was told.

Prosecuting, David Temkin said: “The offences came to light in November 2016 when the complainant reported she had been abused when she was a child.”

He described how Griffiths would tell the girl she “had to take her clothes off”.

Another time she feared she had become pregnant by her abuser after suffering stomach ache – but when she told Griffiths he told her “not to be so silly”.

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The traumatised victim hid the abuse for many years, but in 2016, when she confronted Griffiths he told her it had been “misplaced love”.

In a subsequent police interview after his arrest, he tried to suggest the girl had been abused by two other men. It led to an investigation into two innocent men, the court was told.

In a harrowing victim statement, the victim said she had suffered suicidal thoughts and the trauma had led to the breakdown of a long term relationship.

She also suffers a fear of the dark and of being alone.

Judge Simon Newell, sentencing, said: “Whilst the abuse stopped, the pain, the suffering and the trauma she suffered continued and continues to this day.”

He must sign the sex offender’s register for life.