A 36-year-old Ipswich man who raped and sexually assaulted a schoolgirl has been jailed for 15 years.
In a statement read to Ipswich Crown Court, the victim accused Christopher Steele of making her feel dirty and treating her “like a piece of meat”.
She said that what Steele did to her had affected her relationships and had resulted in her having angry outbursts and self-harming.
Steele, of Andros Close, Ipswich, was convicted after a trial in July this year of two offences of rape, assault of a child under 13 by penetration and five offences of sexual assault.
In addition to being jailed Steele, who will have to serve two thirds of his sentence, was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for life and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the same period.
He was also banned from contacting the victim for life and was given an extended licence period of one year.
Sentencing him Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said that Steele, who still maintained his innocence, had taken the victim on shopping trips and had “showered her with gifts”.
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