A paedophile who used his post as an Army Cadet leader to rape a girl has been jailed again.

One of Steven Watts’ brave victims who he sent inappropriate messages to several ago kept quiet that he had raped her until 2022, when the convicted paedophile who had since changed his name to Benjamin English was arrested.

In 2007 he was spared jail with a 12-month suspended sentence after sending suggestive texts to girls as young as 13 under his charge at a territorial army centre in County Durham.

The Echo reported at the time how he urged one girl to send him topless photos. He was caught when one of the girls’ dads discovered the texts and called police. He promised one girl extra tuition if she supplied a topless snap.

He admitted three offences of causing or inciting a girl under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity.

A year later he subjected a young girl to a catalogue of sickening abuse, and later told police after giving himself up: “I just couldn’t stop it.”

He was jailed on an indefinite sentence and later released.

In 2013 he was again put behind bars for five years after raping a young girl five times.

He then changed his name by deed poll to Benjamin English.

But in 2022, after struggling with the abuse she had suffered, one of the original three victims further reported being raped by the 58-year-old.

English, of Middlesbrough, denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Durham Crown Court and on Friday was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

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Safeguarding Detective Constable Graeme Whitfield, who led the investigation, said: “English is a predator and a danger to children and this was a sickening abuse of trust that had a significant impact on the victim’s wellbeing for more than a decade.

“In 2022 the victim felt able to come forward and tell detectives the whole story and we thank her for her courage in doing so and the fortitude she showed in helping us bring English to justice.

“If you have been a victim of abuse, please come forward and report it. We will believe you.”