December 2012 Child rapist abused young girl for seven years A paedophile has been jailed after being found guilty of a string of sexual abuse offences against a young girl Recovery driver Ian Micheal Best (41) of Watford appeared at St Albans Crown Court where he had previously been found guilty of the following charges: Two count of rape of a child aged under 13 Three counts of rape One count of committing gross indecency with a child One count of indecent assault on a female The court was told that the abuse started when the girl was just nine years old and continued for seven years at various locations including Hemel Hempstead, Bovingdon and then Watford. The judge sentenced Ian Best to 16 years imprisonment He was given a sexual offences prevention order and told he must register as a sex offender for life