A SEX attacker who preyed on the same victim for almost two decades was jailed for 16 years yesterday.

James Campbell, 45, of Howick Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, had denied a series of sickening attacks.

But a jury last week found him guilty found him guilty of nine sex offences, including four of rape, and a judge yesterday branded him "evil".

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the abuse against the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began when she was a girl and went on for 18 years, ending only when she reported him to the police in 2006.

Penny Moreland, prosecuting, had told the court: "He is charged with various forms of sexual abuse from the time she was a little girl to 2006 when she was able to make a complaint to the police about the way the defendant had treated her.

"The defendant was responsible for sinking her into a life of depravity."

Ms Moreland added: "After the first occurrence in 1988 he raped her on a regular basis.

"She never told anyone what was happening to her."

The court heard that in 2005, encouraged by Campbell, the girl, now 25, started working as an escort.

Campbell would also encourage the girl to sleep with strangers and then make her tell him the details, the court heard.

It wasn't until July 2006 when the girl reported the catalogue of abuse to the police and Campbell was arrested.

Judge Esmond Faulks told him yesterday: "This is a tale of the must utter depravity, you achieved your ends by a mixture of brutal violence and emotional blackmail.

"The only good thing which has emerged is she has finally escaped your evil clutches and she has now settled down in an apparently happy and normal relationship."

Campbell will be registered as a sex offender and has been banned from working with children.