A PAEDOPHILE who sexually abused a girl for two years when she was as young as 12 has been jailed.

Brian 'Nick' Giles, from Padgate, was jailed for 16 years on Monday, October 16, for his ‘truly disgraceful crimes’, having groomed a girl aged 12 for sex.

Chester Crown Court heard that the 55-year-old had committed a ‘series of sexual offences’ against the victim on an almost weekly basis, eventually leading to her spending months in a psychiatric hospital.

In crimes dating back more than 20 years, when Giles was in his 30s, he had full sexual intercourse with the 12-year-old girl at his home on Bridgewater Mews, Stockton Heath.

He continued to sexually abuse his young victim for more than two years between 1997 and 1999, indecently assaulting her and taking explicit photographs of the girl in his ‘studio’ when he worked at Creative Camera on Cairo Street in the town centre.

In a warrant of his Giles’ home address, police officers seized boxes of images containing indecent pictures of the victim, who was recently admitted to a psychiatric ward for a period of nine months after suffering ‘overwhelming’ flashbacks and nightmares of the abuse she suffered.

A statement from the woman that was read out in court said: “For almost 15 years I’ve blamed myself for the abuse I suffered at the hands of the defendant because I had allowed it to continue, but I now realise I was groomed.

“I was the victim of a horrendous experience, one that no child should ever have to go through.

“I’ve struggled to cope with the overwhelming flashbacks and nightmares – I was once a happy, strong and independent woman but I’m now unable to return to work due to my health.”

Giles, of Padgate Lane, was found guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse with a child, six counts of indecent assault, four counts of indecency with a child, taking indecent photographs and possession of indecent photographs following a trial earlier this month.

His honour judge Roger Dutton sentenced Giles to 16 years imprisonment on Monday.

Sentencing, judge Dutton said: “The company of girls of this age was something you relished, and you made it your business to court the attention of your victim – you latched on to her in order to satisfy your own sexual desires.

“You groomed her and got her to trust you implicitly – she fell under your spell and you began an outrageous catalogue of sexual crimes against that young girl when you were old enough to be her father.

“What you did to her was truly disgraceful – you had full sex on a number of occasions when she was only 12 and indulged in all manner of sexual behaviour.

“This was all happening regularly, week by week, for two or more years.

“It is quite plain to see that the impact on her life then and since then has been enormous.

“She has suffered enormous problems as a result of your selfish sexual behaviour at her expense – I hope and trust that this will help her to move on to the next stage of her recovery.

“This is an awful case, and now it’s time to suffer the consequences of your behaviour.”

Giles, who had one previous conviction related to firearms, will serve half of his sentence in prison before being released on license.

He was also subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and made to sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Detective constable Jason Heath of Warrington CID said: “This was a horrific offence which has affected the victim throughout her life.

“She has been incredible brave throughout the case, reliving such a terrible offence.

“I want to thank her for standing up to the attacker and seeing him brought to justice.”

Detective inspector Karen Jaundrill added: “No matter the time period of the offences, we are committed in bringing offenders to justice.

“I hope this sentence and the bravery shown by the victim gives others who may have suffered in silence the courage to come forward and speak to us.”