Jailed for 12 years of abuse
A paedophile who carried out horrific sex offences on his step daughter and two nieces was jailed for ten-and-a-half years.
St Albans Crown Court heard how the 48-year-old from Hemel Hempstead could have been stopped years earlier if the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had not dropped a case against him.
Instead he continued to sexually abuse his stepdaughter at the family home, and two nieces when he went to babysit.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to 12 specimen counts of sexual assault and sexual activity with a child.
Rape allegations were not pursued by the prosecution in light of the guilty pleas.
He admitted abusing the three young girls over a 12-year period from the 1990s until 2008 when they were aged between seven and 15.
Isobel Delamere, prosecuting told the court on Wednesday, March 3 how the abuse could have stopped in 2001 after his step daughter telephoned police from outside her school.
Miss Delamere said: "She was 11-years-old and she made a 999 call to say he had sexually abused her.
"She was interviewed, but it didn't come to court. She received no support from her family and they made many disparaging remarks about her."
Her abuser was arrested and interviewed in March 2001, but by May of that year he was living back at the family home.
Miss Delamere said: "The defendant was interviewed. The CPS looked at it, but for reasons not known it wasn't proceeded with"
Once the girl's mother allowed her husband back into the family home, he continued where he had left off, the court heard.
Miss Delamere said: "One day an aunt appeared at the home shouting about what he had been doing to her daughter and it was only then the victim - now in her 20s knew they would believe her."
Imposing a sentence of ten-and-a-half years Judge Andrew Bright QC said: "This is sickening exploitation of children in your family.
"You abused your position of trust on children that deserved your unconditional protection, for your own sexual gratification."
FOR FULL NEWS AND ANALYSIS SEE THE GAZETTE.
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