Pensioner John Taylor, formerly of Ashley Road in New Milton, jailed for 12 years for sexually abusing girl

A woman who was sexually abused when she was just 10 has revealed how she has since tried to kill herself three times and suffers night terrors because of the assaults.

In an emotional victim impact statement read to Bournemouth Crown Court at the sentencing of 76-year-old John Taylor, formerly of Ashley Road, New Milton, she described multiple assaults over a two-year period.

Now a young woman, the victim said she had also self-harmed, adding: “I have attempted suicide three times because the hurt and shame often feels too much to bear.

“I can’t sleep – I suffer night terrors so bad that I cannot breathe.

“He took away my innocence and I feel my whole life is ruined. He should be locked away from children for a very long time. But I am a survivor, not a victim, and I hope my story helps others.”

She was sitting in another room during the court hearing, with her statement read out by prosecutor Tom Devlin.

The abuse by Taylor, whose address was given in court as Poole, was revealed when the victim told a relative last year what had happened to her.

Mr Devlin said that when confronted, the defendant had “freely admitted sexually abusing the girl, saying he couldn’t help himself”.

The defendant had pleaded guilty to seven charges at a previous hearing. They included sexual assault of a child under 13 and assault by penetration.

Defending, Richard Martin said his client had been “waiting for this day to come”.

Mr Martin said the defendant, who sat downcast in the dock wearing a suit and tie, should be given credit for confessing to the offences immediately when asked.

“He accepts that he had a sexual interest in the victim at that time,” he said. “He is hopeful that one day the victim will forgive him.”

Mr Martin pointed out that two of the defendant’s children were in the public gallery, saying: “The family struggle to reconcile the father they knew with the man that they know has committed these offences.

“In every other aspect of his life he has led a good life – this was an isolated occurrence.”

He added that, given the defendant’s age, he should not be classed as a “dangerous offender”.

A pre-sentence report found that Taylor had shown remorse for what he had done, but also that he did not realise the “seriousness of what he did”, the court heard.

Sentencing Taylor to 12 years in prison, with one to be served on licence, Judge William Mousley KC said there had been “grooming” leading up to the abuse.

He noted the victim’s statement “makes very plain the impact your offending has had on her”.

The judge accepted that while the abuse had caused her “severe psychological harm”, Taylor had “very little insight into the harm what you did had on her”.

The defendant will also be made subject to a sexual harm prevention order when he is eventually released.