Blandford child rapist sentenced to 10 years

BLANDFORD CHILD RAPIST SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS

A CHILD rapist was labelled ‘perverted’ and ‘repulsive’ as he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

David Brian Long, 51, was jailed after he repeatedly abused a young girl over several years from when she was just four years old.

Long, of Mary Cossins Close, Blandford, initially denied three charges of rape and five of sexually assaulting a child under 13, but changed his plea on the morning he was due to stand trial.

Angela England, prosecuting, told Dorchester Crown Court the allegations against Long first came to light in December last year after his victim, now 10, confided in a teacher at her school.

Miss England said: “She was asked if it had happened once and she said ‘no, lots of times’.” Police and social services were contacted and in a video interview the girl said the first time she was sexually assaulted was when she was just four years old.

Miss England said the further allegations of abuse all took place after 2006.

She said: “She told police the defendant would abuse her on almost every occasion they were alone.” The rape allegations were said to have taken place between October 1 and December 8 last year, when the girl was nine.

Miss England said when Long was interviewed he denied the allegations, saying the girl was a ‘liar’.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark told the defendant: “You had sexual lust for a young girl.

“Your conduct was perverted and repulsive.” He also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order prohibiting Long from working with children, living in the same house as anyone under 18 or contacting the victim in any way.