A Market Harborough man has been convicted of raping and assaulting a child

A Leicestershire man has been jailed for sexually abusing a child more than 20 years ago.

Carl Hamilton, 39, was jailed for 10 years when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

His victim, now an adult, approached the police to report what happened to her in November 2019.

She told officers Hamilton, of Welland Park Road in Market Harborough, first raped her in 1999 when she was three.

He regularly touched her inappropriately and continued to rape her on other occasions until the abuse stopped in 2002, police said.

When questioned by detectives, Hamilton declined to comment on the allegations.

But following a trial, he was convicted of five counts of indecent assault of a girl under 14 and three counts of raping her.

Det Con Aisling McPhillips, the investigating officer, said: “When the abuse started she was just three years old. She was completely unaware that what he was doing to her was completely and utterly disgusting.

“Despite the seriousness of the charges, he refused to admit his crimes, meaning the victim had to relive the ordeal in front of a jury.

“Luckily, they saw through his lies.

“I hope today’s result gives him some degree of closure and allows him to get on with his life as best he can.

“I hope this case serves as a reminder to other victims of sexual abuse that it’s never too late to report it to the police.”