Jail for “vile” man who raped schoolgirl
A “VILE” man who sexually abused a schoolgirl more than 25 years ago has been jailed for 13 years.
John Ramsden (57), of Ash Grove, Rawmarsh, sexually abused a girl aged between five and eight in the late 1980s when he would have been in his mid to late-20s.
He was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape after a week-long trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
Ramsden touched the girl inappropriately on more than one occasion. He also performed a sexual act on her and on another occasion tried to rape her in his own bedroom.
Mrs Alison O’Shea, prosecuting, said the girl still suffered from flashbacks which caused her mouth to go dry, an increased heart rate and anxiety.
Mr Francis Edusei, mitigating, said Ramsden was a man of low intelligence who had attended a special school as a child.
His Honour Judge Jeremy Richardson, Recorder of Sheffield, said what Ramsden had done was “outrageous and cruel”.
He added: “She [the victim] has had to live with your vile conduct towards her for many years.”
“She has suffered all the adverse consequences that one would expect in such a situation.
“You richly deserve every minute of the custodial term which has been imposed.”
Ramsden was banned from contacting the victim by way of an indefinite restraining order.
He will be on the sex offender’s register for life.
Ramsden was acquitted by the jury of three further counts of indecent assault.