A PAEDOPHILE was yesterday jailed for 15 years for what a judge described as the “systematic and persistent” abuse of a schoolgirl.

Mark Goring still disputes the findings of a jury and plans to appeal against his convictions, which followed a crown court trial last month.

The jury found the 40-year-old guilty of 12 specimen charges of child abuse, including rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Once he realised his victim was not going to report him to police, Goring’s attacks escalated to rape.

Judge Howard Crowson told him: “You preyed upon her innocence. These offences had become near routine.”

Jobless Goring sat with his head bowed in the dock throughout yesterday’s 20-minute sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court.

His barrister, Paul Cleasby, said Goring is still struggling to come to terms with the outcome of the trial and life in prison.

Mr Cleasby said he was unlikely to trouble the authorities after his release, and will abide by a sexual offences prevention order, which will prohibit him from having unsupervised contact with under-18s, and he will also be banned from working with children.

Judge Crowson also ordered that the attacker, of Bowhill Way, Billingham, near Stockton, should sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Last night, police described Goring as a predator and hailed the bravery of his victim for finding the courage to report his years of abuse.

Detective Constable Caroline Mead said: “The sentence handed to Goring reflects the serious nature of the allegations made against him.

“The victim in this case acted with great dignity and courage by reporting the abuse, thus helping to bring this predatory paedophile to justice.”

Judge Crowson said: “It was gross and persistent abuse. It is right there was no physical threat, but there was no need for it in this case.”

Mr Cleasby told the court: “The instances of abuse, although repeated, were sort-lived in their particular aspects.

They were happening for a few minutes.”

Goring was convicted of three charges each of rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and six of sexual activity with a child.