May 2008 Clayton-le-Moors man jailed for raping child A MAN who subjected a girl to “appalling” sexual abuse has been jailed for 16 years. A court heard that Robert McConnell’s crimes had caused a serious degree of harm to his victim. And a judge said the girl’s victim impact statement made for “sad and harrowing” reading. The 40-year-old defendant, of no fixed address, but who comes from the Clayton-le-Moors area, had pleaded guilty to three charges of rape, two of indecent assault, one of sexual activity with a child and another sexual activity charge. Sarah Dodd, prosecuting, said the offending began with McConnell grabbing the 13-year-old and then starting to kiss and touch her. He went on to rape her. At a later stage she wrote letters of a “harrowing content,” which showed she had suffered huge distress, the court heard. The defendant was a man without any sexual offences on his record. Keith Thomas, defending, said McConnell accepted there would be a sentence of some considerable length. He expressed remorse. Mr Thomas said: “The guilty pleas had a significant effect of saving the victim the trauma of having to give evidence, going through the harrowing experience. “The defendant has opened his eyes and come some way at least towards facing up to the seriousness of what he did.” In passing sentence, Judge Heather Lloyd told McConnell said his behaviour had been “appalling”. She said of his victim: “The short term and long term effects on her are serious and sign-ificant. The degree of harm was serious.” McConnell was told he will be on the sex offenders register for life and banned from working with children for life.