January 2006 Neighbour jailed for 11 years over child sex abuse A MAN has been jailed for 11 years for raping a young neighbour over a decade. Frank Stafford (57), pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 13 sample charges of rape, oral and anal rape, sexual assault and indecent assault on dates from 1988 to 1997. Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed 11-year sentences on each of six rape charges and four years on each of the remaining counts, all to run concurrently. He suspended the final 18 months of the rape sentences unconditionally in view of Stafford’s early guilty plea. Mr Justice Carney also certified Stafford, single, of Ballyclough, Kilbride, Co Wicklow, as a sex offender and directed that he undergo five years post-release supervision. Garda Denis Reilly told the court that Stafford committed his offences in the victim’s home, in another nearby premises and in his car. She was aged from seven to 17 years while being abused. Gda Reilly said Stafford began abusing her by touching her and making her touch him. This continued until she was 11 years old, when he first raped her while her parents were out of the house. The victim kept a diary in which she recounted details of the sexual abuses she suffered. Gda Reilly said Stafford made limited admissions after his arrest and said he was sorry for his actions. Stafford told gardai: “I just played around with her. She never said she didn’t want to do it.”