Child rapist who ‘grossly disfigured’ victim’s teenage years is jailed for seven years

VICTIM HAD TO RELIVE HER ORDEAL IN COURT

A DERBYSHIRE child rapist isolated his young victim from her family and sexually abused her.

A trial heard how Alan Lamb took the girl to his home and had full sex with her. On other occasions Lamb would get the victim to carry out other depraved acts on him.

The victim, who was a young teenager when the crimes happened, had to relive her ordeal giving evidence due to the defendant’s denials.

A jury heard how her teenage years were categorised by self-harm and a suicide attempt as a result of what took place.

And it was only years later she was able to bravely pluck up the courage and report what happened to her.

Jailing Lamb, 33, for seven and a half years, Recorder Adrian Reynolds said: “It is deadly serious the rape of a child of this age.

“It had led to substantial psychological harm (on her), you took a young child from the safety of her family and did what you did to her.

“Her teenage years, which should have been the happiest of her life, you grossly disfigured by what you did to her.

“Her teenage years were characterised by self-harm and a suicide attempt.

“The idea that this was someone making a false complaint, as you did at trial, is ridiculous.”

Lamb’s trial, which took place at the Mercure Hotel nightingale court in Nottingham last month, saw the victim forced to relive her ordeal giving evidence. She told how Lamb, who was considerably older than his victim, would take her to his house and sexually abuse her. A jury found the defendant guilty of one count of rape of a child and two counts of sexual assault.

He has no previous convictions. William Bennett, his barrister, said: “He knows it is going to be an extremely long sentence he is going to receive.

“He knows if it is longer than seven years then he will have to serve two-thirds of it in custody.

“He has never been to prison before and it will come as a massive shock.

“His family are worried whether he will be able to cope with custody.

“His life is on tatters, he has children of his own and his relationship with his partner and children has been effectively wrecked.”

As a result of his conviction, Lamb, of Valley Road, Shirebrook, will be on the sex offender register for life.