A MAN has been jailed for 13 years for the abuse of a seven-year-old girl.
David Elliott, who used to run a sandwich shop on the Broxtowe Estate, committed 13 sexual offences.
He persuaded the child to perform a sexual act on him and touched her, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
The abuse escalated and he tried to rape her when she was just ten.
Elliott denied the charges, but was convicted after a trial in January. He was sentenced yesterday.
Recorder Nicholas Dean QC said he had committed the crimes against a young victim, adding: "It's impossible to say how many offences were carried out."
Elliott was found guilty of four charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13, four of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two of indecency with a child, two indecent assaults, and the attempted rape.
The judge said: "She says she felt dirty and later, when she began to understand these things were wrong, she felt ashamed."
He told Elliott, previously of Aspley and Bulwell, that he had profoundly affected the life of a young woman. "It's hoped your conviction and sentence I impose will mean she can begin to put this period in her life behind her," said the judge.
Elliott, 49, whose address was given as Brewery Street, Skegness, will now be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.
He will serve half of the 13 years before carrying out the remainder on parole.
After the hearing, the girl's aunt said she was pleased wit the jail sentence.
"At least he won't be hurting other children where he is," she said.
The girl, who is now at college, said through her aunt that she wanted to encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward.
She said: "There is support out there. It's hard and it's a long process, but whoever is going through it should speak to a social worker, a teacher or someone they can trust."
For advice about rape, call the Topaz Centre (Notts Sexual Assault Referral Centre) on 0845 600 1588 or Nottingham Rape Crisis on 0115 941 0440.
