June 2015 Rapist ‘ruined the life’ of 10-year-old after continual violent assaults A VIOLENT sex attacker “ruined” the childhood of a 10-year-old girl by continually raping her over a number of years, a court heard. Ricky Tyler was jailed for 13-and-a-half years for repeatedly raping the girl over a period of years in Bolton and Bury, from the age of 10 to 15. Bolton Crown Court was told that the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, tried to resist but Tyler, aged 54, was violent towards her. On one occasion, the court was told that Tyler tied the girl up and left her there following the sexual assault. In addition, the girl plucked up the courage to complain about the attacks, but Tyler denied any involvement and the girl was subsequently branded a “liar”. Tyler, of Bury Road, Breightmet, also attacked a 12-year-old friend of the girl, and groped her. The court was told that until recently Tyler was totally dependent on alcohol, but had undergone detox while in prison which was starting to improve his health. Judge Timothy Stead said: “On one occasion you tied her up and left her in that position for some time. You were almost always drunk during the period.” The court heard that Tyler had previous convictions for robbery, violent disorder and battery, as well as indecent assault more than 20 years ago. Judge Stead continued: “I cannot underestimate what you did to her and what the impact must have been. It has ruined her childhood and may subsequently ruin her adult life as well. “It is very much to be hoped that she can manage to get on with her life.” Tyler previously pleaded guilty to six counts of raping a child aged under 13, a further six counts of raping a child under 16, and four counts sexually assaulting a child aged under 13. Judge Stead sentenced Tyler to 12 years for the first six counts, eight years for the next six counts of raping a child under the age of 16, and for 18 months for the charges of sexual assault. He ordered the first two sentences to run concurrently and the third to run consecutively, therefore Tyler received a total sentence of 13-and-a-half years.