A PERVERT who gave genital warts to the young victim of his sexual abuse has been jailed.

David Donachie carried out a ‘campaign’ of abuse on the child over a number of years.

The 51-year-old, formerly from the Middlesbrough area, finally faced justice as his victim laid bare the devastating impact his abuse was still having on her when he was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, bravely took to the witness box to tell Donachie to his face how his behaviour had destroyed her life.

In a powerful victim impact statement, she said: "As a child, during the abuse, I don't know any better, I thought it was normal behaviour because of how frequently it happened.

"I didn't realise the abuse was wrong until I got older."

Fighting back tears, she added: "I started wondering if it was my fault. I was really emotional, confused, at that time. It has changed my whole life and I always struggle with partners.

"I never feel comfortable being intimate and feel dirty, as if what he did to me was my fault.

"I have self harmed several times and attempted to take my own life a few times too, because I hate myself, feel dirty and couldn't cope."

She added: "To be able to speak out with the truth, I have got closure for that little girl, she is still stuck there God bless.

"The events that took place over the years were disgusting but after today I have been set free."

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said the victim endured numerous medical interventions to deal with her injuries and to have the genital warts removed as a young child.

Donachie, of Hammond Court, Rhyl, pleaded guilty to three charges of assault by digital penetration one the day his trial was due to start.

Chris Baker, in mitigation, urged the judge to give his client credit for pleading guilty even though it was on the day the trial was due to start.

Judge Timothy Stead jailed Donachie for a total of 13 years and six months.

He said: "The harm done to her is very difficult to calculate, it is even more difficult for me to do justice to in this court, having listened to her brave and impassioned observations concerning the affect upon her so far.

"I stress so far because I fear the effects of what you did will never entirely leave her – it is hoped the passage of time will soften the effect."

Donachie was put on the sex offenders' register for life.

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