Man sentenced to 11 years for sexually assaulting child
The victim's bravery was praised by police following the sentencing.
A man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a child under 13.
For the protection of the anonymity of the child victim, the man's identity has not been disclosed.
He appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, 14th January, where he was also given a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The case was first reported to Surrey Police by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in December 2022, after the child's grandmother came forward with the disclosure.
The child revealed that her father had been sexually assaulting her for a period of two years.
During this time, the man sent the child daily messages, using coded language for his actions, and manipulated her emotionally, making comments such as “I do so much for you, I would feel really upset if you told anyone.”
Despite being confronted with these messages, he opted for a 'no comment' response during questioning.
Detective Constable Nicola Dell praised the child, saying: "The bravery and strength of the victim-survivor to share what they have been through is admirable. I hope they will find some closure and be able to gain strength to move forward."
Detective Constable Dell expressed her concern over the man's abuse of trust, highlighting the manipulative actions taken to exploit the child's vulnerability.
She urged other survivors or those who know victims of sexual abuse to seek assistance: "We take reports of sexual abuse extremely seriously, and we are here to listen and support all victims. You're not to blame for what's happening. You're not alone."