Child rapist Robert Tempest sentenced to 17 years in prison

Robert Tempest was convicted of carrying out a series of depraved acts on the child after a jury listened to the heartbreaking testimony during his trial.

The 52-year-old admitted raping the child on one occasion but denied carrying out repeated rapes and sexual assaults, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Dr Christopher Wood, prosecuting, said Tempest preyed on the child several years ago before the victim revealed the extent of the abuse she suffered at his hands.

The court heard how he used a series of threats to make his victim comply with his deviant behaviour.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said the abuse had significantly damaged her relationship with her father due to her fear of men.

“I was terrified to be anywhere near him,” she said. “He often told me that if I didn’t do it, he would make someone his favourite – I knew what that meant.

“It was my job to protect them, keep them safe from him.”

She said as she got older, she realised what had happened to her was wrong and made her continually scared of any man.

“Since I told my friend what happened, my family have been so supportive and still are,” she added.

“I questioned whether I had the strength to give evidence and bring it all back again – it was like reliving my worst nightmare over and over.”

Tempest, of Attlee Avenue, Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, was convicted of four charges of rape and two counts of sexual assault.

Kate Barnes, mitigating, said: “He does accept the hideous nature of his wrongdoing. He will have ample time to reflect upon it.

“He wishes to express his remorse and the deep regret for the impact his conduct has had.”

Judge Advocate Tom Mitchell told Tempest he had committed some of the worst offending possible as he sentenced him to 17 years in custody.

“You pleaded guilty to one charge of rape but that was the extent that you were prepared to admit – that was only a small vulgar fraction of what you did,” he said.

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“You treated your victim foully, you were a fully grown man, you knew precisely what you were doing.

“The steps you took to hide your behaviour demonstrate you knew exactly what you were doing.

Tempest was issued with an indefinite restraining order to protect his victim.

He was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life and was issued with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.