POLICE have praised the “brave” victim of a dangerous sex offender after her evidence helped to ensure her attacker will remain behind bars for a long time.

The woman, who suffered “incomprehensible abuse” at the hands of Stuart Haslam in her younger days, hopes the case will give confidence to others to come forward and bring their abusers to justice.

PC Kat Pudney, of Durham Police’s safeguarding team, said: “To the victim, this investigation was never about the punishment or the sentence that Haslam received.

“To her, it was about standing up to him, feeling believed and getting closure.

“The victim would like others who are reading this, who may be a victim of historical sexual abuse, to know that if they are trying to find the courage to make the first step and report the abuse to the police, then just like her, ‘you can do it’.”

In a previous case Haslam, formerly of of Brandon, was sentenced to 13-and-half-years after admitting the rape of a young boy and distributing indecent images of children, at Durham Crown Court in December 2015.

It was recommended he serves at least nine years behind bars before being eligible for release on licence, but only with the consent of the Parole Board.

Following that case, the woman came forward to police to say that she had also been abused by Haslam as a young girl and, following a trial at the court, in January, the 39-year-old was found guilty of three further sexual offences.

He was last week sentenced to an additional 11 years behind bars, to start once that first period of imprisonment for rape has been served and may, now, remain behind bars until the mid-to-late 2030s.

PC Pudney said: “I would like to praise the victim of these serious offences who has suffered incomprehensible abuse when she was a just young, defenceless child.

“Stuart Haslam is a dangerous man who admits being sexually attracted to children.

“The sentencing results are indicative of the danger that he poses to children and will prevent him having access to young and vulnerable children for many more years”.

PC Pudney added: “The victim in this case was extremely brave in coming forward and working with Durham Constabulary, talking about events which have stuck with her and have massively affected her into her adult life, and then had the courage to stand up in court and have her voice heard.

“I would like to stress that, anyone who comes forward and reports historical abuse will be fully supported by Durham Constabulary as well as being offered specialist support throughout the investigation”.

Anyone who wishes to report historic sexual abuse should call Durham Police’s safeguarding teams, on 101.