A MAN who sexually abused a young girl has been sent to prison for six years.

Michael Lee, 20, sat in the dock in Swindon Crown Court yesterday as Recorder Robert Pawson passed sentence.

He was found guilty of four counts of assault by penetration following a trial in Swindon in February.

The court heard that Lee, of Helmsdale, abused a position of trust to molest the girl over a three year period, starting from when she was six and he was 15.

Lee’s crimes first came to light when the youngster wrote a heart-breaking letter to her mother describing what Lee had done to her.

CPS prosecutor Mark Worsley read to the court a statement from the victim, in which he described the girl as having recurrent nightmares and exhibiting “aggressive behaviour” due to the abuse.

Using the victim’s own words, Mr Worsley said: “I feel sad when I think about what he did to me and I feel bad that I kept it to myself.

“Am I the only little girl he did this to? Since I told my mum I have nightmares about him doing the same to other children.”

The youngster told how under the cover of playing games Lee repeatedly touched her and placed his finger inside her.

The court also heard that Lee had solicited indecent images over the internet from a girl he knew to be just 11-years-old.

However, Rob Ross, defending, sought to draw a distinction between Lee and what he described as a “dyed-in-the-wool paedophile”.

He said: “Many sex offenders go on, year after year, constantly denying they have a problem. We don’t have that with this young man.

“He accepts he has something within him that is abhorrent and that he, too, finds abhorrent. And the only way people can change their behaviour is if they accept that what they are doing is wrong.”

The court heard that Lee has had “a period of reflection” while he has been in custody and this has enabled him to face up to his crimes.

Mr Ross urged the judge to consider the fact that, had Lee been prosecuted when the offences were committed, he would have faced a different set of sentencing guidelines due to still being a minor.

Addressing Lee, Recorder Robert Pawson said: “You were a babysitter. You were only 15 and 16 when you penetrated the girl while she was in your care.

“You are a bright young man and this case has got so many different facets of tragedy about it.”

After considering the massive impact Lee’s actions have had on the family, and the young girl telling her father she felt suicidal, the judge sentenced Lee to six years behind bars.

Kevin West, of the NSPCC schools service, runs ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’ assemblies and workshops across Wiltshire, which aim to teach primary school children about different forms of abuse, how to spot the signs and who to share concerns with.

It was one of these assemblies that the victim in this case saw, before she told her mother about the abuse she had suffered at the hands of Lee.

Kevin said: “This was a shocking case, in which Lee repeatedly sexually abused a young girl, from a position of considerable trust.

“I would like to praise the bravery of this child, who after engaging with our assembly had the courage to speak out to her mum in the form of a letter.

“This girl and her family are now receiving support to rebuild their lives, and I hope that her actions will inspire any other children who have worries – however small they may seem – to seek help from a trusted adult.”

Any adult with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC Helpline at any time for free on 0800 800 5000. Children call contact Childline on 0800 1111.