August 2007 Rapist caged for 10 years  A MAN who raped a young girl has been jailed for 10 years. Wayne Rowland, 38, of Every Street, Halifax Road, Todmorden, was found guilty of rape and 16 offences of indecent assault. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall told him: “You were using her as a sexual plaything on virtually a daily basis. “You destroyed her childhood and made her relive the abuse before this jury.” Bradford Crown Court heard that Rowland had grossly abused the girl’s trust. The offences took place between 1993 and 2005 and began when the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seven. Rowland started the abuse by touching the girl under her clothing. He then forced her into performing sex acts and on one occasion raped her in her own home. The police were contacted after the girl, now 21, told her mother that Rowland had interfered with her. He was interviewed by officers in December last year and denied all the charges. Following a direction by Judge Durham Hall, the jury acquitted Rowland of two offences of indecency with a child, a sexual assault and a further offence of indecent assault. Rowland showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned. Judge Durham Hall said the abuse was systematic, routine and regular. He said: “The effect on her will never, this court knows, be truly calculated. “Emotional illness, weight loss and sleep deprivation are all clearly attributable to systematic abuse by you and all she was asking you to do was to have the guts and the courage to say what you had done.” Rowland will be placed for life on the sex offenders register.