Child abuser who confessed to police is jailed for eight years

John Plews initially broke his silence after contacting a mental health crisis team and telling them he was suicidal, a court heard.

The 53-year-old's support worker called police and Plews admitted to officers that he had committed the sickening crimes in the 1990s.

His victim was also contacted and despite "burying" her ordeal as she struggled to cope with life, she confirmed what had happened.

In an impact statement, she said Plews had forced her to relive her agonising past when he unburdened himself of his guilt.

Plews, from Dormanstown, near Redcar, east Cleveland, admitted rape, three charges of indecency with a child and six of indecent assault.

Jailing him at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Judge Peter Armstrong told him he had subjected the girl to "sustained" abuse.

The court heard that he "rewarded" her with cigarettes, and she was too afraid to speak out for fear of not being believed.

The attacks ended after Plews raped the youngster, she said "I'm not doing this no more" and he began to cry and apologised.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett told the court that the victim has suffered panic attacks since the abuse came to light last summer.

He said she is sometimes afraid to leave her home, has trouble trusting people and believes all men are capable of such behaviour.

In her statement, she said: "I felt he manipulated me to the point that I had to go along with it. It almost became normal to me."

Peter Wishlade, mitigating, said Plews, of Hill Crescent, had never before been in trouble and had shown "true remorse".

Judge Armstrong also ordered him to sign on the sex offenders' register for life, and banned him from contact with girls aged under 16.

The judge told him: "Your victim attempted to live with it, and the impact statement is understandable.

"You admitted matters when they came to light which means she has had to bring them back to her mind, when she had tried to bury them."