A 'manipulative offender' who groomed and sexually abused a young girl has been jailed for more than 20 years.
James Groves, 51, of Little Stoke, South Gloucestershire, was convicted of 19 offences following a trial at Bristol Crown Court and sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison on Friday, September 18.
The offences, which are non-recent, include nine counts of rape.
Groves, who also goes by the name April, had been found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict on June 5.
The offences came to light after Groves was arrested for inappropriate communication with a child.
The victim later disclosed that she had been raped and sexually abused by Groves over several years.
Groves was further arrested for those offences while they were in custody.
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Convictions include rape of a child, sexual assault of a child, assault by penetration, possession of indecent photographs of a child, attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, and carrying out acts intended to pervert the course of public justice.
In a victim impact statement read in court, the survivor said: "I felt that because Groves groomed me, I did not realise how serious what was going on was.
"They built up a relationship with me, and, in my head, I did not feel like it was enough for me to contact the police.
"I have lost my childhood because of what they did, and I will never get it back."
Detective Constable Ben Perrett, from Avon and Somerset Police’s Criminal Investigations Department, said: "This has been an extremely distressing case involving the sustained abuse of a vulnerable young girl, who was targeted and manipulated by the offender over several years.
"Groves' actions demonstrate a calculated pattern of grooming designed to gain trust and exert control.
"I would like to commend the victim for her exceptional bravery in coming forward and supporting the investigation.
"Her courage has been instrumental in securing this conviction and preventing further harm."
Groves will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for an indefinite period.
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