A SCHOOLGIRL abuse victim who has waited more than a decade for justice has finally seen her attacker locked up.

Maurice Burton was jailed for three years yesterday after being told by a judge he had left the girl mentally scarred for life.

Burton was found guilty of two charges of indecent assault dating back to the Nineties when a trial at Teesside Crown Court ended last month.

The married 49-year-old, of Rivergarth, Darlington, still disputes the victim's account.

He now accepts that there was some sexual contact between them, but claims his accuser has exaggerated the details.

The court heard that the girl made complaints at the time to relatives and the police, but Burton was never prosecuted.

A fresh investigation was launched last year, and the motor mechanic was arrested and charged with a string of offences.

After a ten-day trial, he was acquitted by a jury of five further counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

During the trial, the victim gave what Judge Tony Briggs yesterday described as an "impressive" account of her ordeal.

Under cross-examination, it was put to her that she might have dreamt it, to which she replied: "I wish I had."

Ian West, mitigating, told the court that Burton going to prison would devastate his large and supportive family.

"He has transgressed, a long time ago now, in a very serious way, I accept that, "Mr West told Judge Briggs.

"But I question the necessity to send him to prison nearly 14 years after the event for this isolated incident, which was out of character.

"The court should be straining every sinew, at a time when prison places are few, to avoid having to send a man of this character to prison."

Judge Briggs heard how the victim says Burton has ruined her life and she finds it difficult to cope with what happened.

He told Burton: "It obviously had a devastating effect on her and continued to do so for many years thereafter.

"It was, I accept, a single incident which didn't go on for very long, but the effects of it have been very long-lasting."