A PAEDOPHILE who repeatedly raped and abused a young girl in a five-year-long campaign of child abuse has been jailed.

During her ordeal the child - who cannot be named for legal reasons - said she felt 'disgusting' and thought if she spoke out she would get 'told off.'

Denying the charges and going to trial jurors heard that Phillip Lewis told police he was 'disgusted by the things being said about him.'

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Despite his protestations he was convicted by a jury at Oxford Crown Court and he was sentenced at the same court yesterday.

The 41-year-old of Foxcroft Drive, Carterton was sentenced for one count of rape, one of assault by penetration, three of sexual assault and one of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

All of the offences involved one child victim and took place in the early 2010s in West Oxfordshire.

During the trial prosecutors detailed the string of offences whereby Lewis would molest the girl on multiple occasions as well as 'simulate intercourse' with her.

It was said that Lewis would perform a sex act in front of the child on numerous occasions and that he also orally raped her.

Jurors went on to watch a recorded police interview which the victim gave where she told officers she was abused by Lewis on multiple occasions, and she went on to detail those incidents.

Describing what she claimed happened to her she said that the abuse made her feel 'disgusting.'

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She said: "When you are young you are vulnerable so it becomes acceptable in a way.

"You think it's going to be fine but it's not fine."

The child went on: "You didn't really know what to do.

"If you told someone it's your fault, you are going to get told off and all the blame will be on you because you let it happen."

Asked by police how often the sexual abuse would take place she claimed it would happen 'a lot' and said the incidents were 'pretty frequent.'

At the sentencing hearing the victim bravely faced her accuser by attending the court hearing but no victim personal statement was read out by prosecutors.

In mitigation Ian Jobling, defending, said that his client had been a 'productive member of the community' with a 'very good work record.'

He added that since his remand in custody Lewis has applied to be a 'listener' at the prison with the Samaritans and had got involved in mentoring fellow inmates.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb jailed Lewis for a total of 14 years.

He was also made subject to a further one-year period of extended licence.

Lewis must also sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely and pay a statutory victim surcharge.