A man who carried out repeated sexual abuse of a young girl has been jailed for six years.



Preston Crown Court heard that John Robinson’s offending had a profound effect upon his victim and it had taken her a long time to come to terms with what had occurred.
Robinson, 46, of Hala Road, Lancaster, appeared for sentencing, having earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault, as well as seven others of indecency with a child.
The offences dated back a number of years.
Miss Zoe Salter, prosecuting, said Robinson had told the girl that what happened was their secret. The victim came forward to police last year, as an adult.
The offences had involved him touching her and causing her to touch him.
The court also heard that the victim had been having counselling as a result of what happened to her.
Robinson had no similar offences on his record. Mr Chris Evans, defending, said that when interviewed by police, his client had accepted, in broad terms, the allegations made against him.
Mr Evans said: “He has always expected that. In a way, it is a sense of relief that he has been prosecuted.”
In passing sentence, Judge Andrew Woolman told Robinson the offences amounted to serious sexual abuse.
“What you did to her has had a profound effect upon her view of herself and on her relationships with others.”
Robinson will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely, banned from working with children and also subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.