James Groves, 51, also known as April, has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison after being convicted of multiple child sex offences involving a vulnerable girl.
Groves was convicted at Bristol Crown Court of 18 child sex offences and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
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The court heard that Groves sexually abused the girl over a number of years while she was still a child, including raping her nine times.
The victim, whose identity is protected, told the court about the lasting impact the abuse had on her childhood. Police praised her for what they described as her exceptional bravery in coming forward.
She said: “I am just a shell of my former self. I don’t remember chunks of my childhood because of what Groves did, and this is because of the trauma I have been through.
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“People have said to me that I am not the bright, bubbly girl I once was.
“I have lost my childhood. I will never get it back.
The offences came to light after Groves was arrested over inappropriate communication with a child. Following the arrest, the victim disclosed that she had been sexually abused and raped by him over several years.
“I did not feel like it was enough for me to contact the police” the victim added
Groves was subsequently arrested in connection with the abuse while he was in custody.
Police carried out a detailed investigation, while specialist support services were provided to the victim. Groves was charged in October last year, convicted by a jury in June and sentenced on September 9.
The jury unanimously found Groves, who was named as James Groves on the indictment and referred to as James during the sentencing hearing, guilty of 19 separate non-recent offences, including nine counts of rape.
In addition to his prison sentence, Groves will remain subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.