Malcolm Morano was accused of abusing the youngster in a Northumberland town when she was aged between eight and 12.


A man has been jailed for sexually abusing a young girl more than 30 years ago.

Malcolm Morano was accused of abusing the youngster in a Northumberland town when she was aged between eight and 12.

The victim found the courage to report the abuse to Northumbria Police in 2016 and Morano was charged with six counts of rape and one of indecent assault.

The 64-year-old initially denied the offences and a trial date was fixed, however he later changed his plea to guilty.

Now he has been locked up for 12 and a half years.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how his victim had suffered because of the abuse and grew up with low self-esteem, feeling “as if I had been the one who had done something wrong”.

In a heartfelt statement, which she read out in court, she said her innocence had been taken away from her and the ordeal had an impact on her relationships as an adult.

She added: “My life has been controlled far too long by this. He took my childhood away.”

Passing sentence, Judge Penny Moreland told Morano: “What you did had serious consequences for her. She was deprived of her childhood and her innocence.”

Morano, of Gilsland, Brampton, will serve half his sentence before becoming eligible for release.
Judge Moreland added: “It will be for the parole board to decide if it’s safe for you to be released.”