A Judge has praised the courage of a rape victim after a man who abused her as a child was jailed for ten years.
Glen Aris groomed the girl for sex when she was just eight by buying her treats and went on to force her to take part in a range of acts with him at his Devon home.
The victim felt unable to reveal what had happened to her for almost a decade and has suffered long term psychological effects from the abuse she suffered.
Aris, aged 56, of Willow Avenue, Torquay, admitted rape, sexual assault, inciting a child to sexual activity and assault by penetration.
He was jailed for ten years by Judge Simon Carr at Exeter Crown Court and ordered to sign onto the sex offenders' register for life.
The Judge told him:"This was systematic abuse of an eight-year-old and it is clear there was extensive grooming, as was reflected in your interview where you took the very disturbing position that a girl of that age was capable of consent.
"The effect on the victim must have been devastating. The effect on her is very real and will probably be with her for the rest of her life.
"I would like to praise the victim for her immense courage in coming forward and I hope that the sentence having been passed, she will be able to get on with her life."
Mr Tom Bradnock, prosecuting, said the offences happened around 2004 when Aris was living in Paignton and the girl was just eight.
He said the sexual abuse started with touching but became more serious until it involved oral rape and digital penetration.
He said:"The victim recalls Aris trying to make her feel special and rewarding her with pizza or ice cream. It is a pattern of behaviour which can be identified as grooming.
"When interviewed he admitted the activity but said he had never forced himself upon the girl."
Mr Kevin Hopper, defending, said Aris deserves credit for having admitted what he had done and sparing the victim the ordeal of coming to court.
