“HE’S taken her innocence, it’s taken her childhood.”

That is the long-lasting impact paedophile Stephen Walker has had on his young victim, according to her mother.

The primary school girl was preyed upon until she wrote down what was happening on a paper plate and showed it to her mum.

The woman, who cannot be identified, has spoken out as the NSPCC said a child is sexually abused once every 20 minutes on average in England and Wales.

Walker, of Prunus Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was jailed for three-and-a-half-years after being convicted by a jury of seven charges of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Following last month’s trial, the 22-year-old was jailed at Oxford Crown Court on Monday.

The girl’s mother, who said “no sentence is long enough for any parent”, explained: “He has taken her innocence. Even though he did not actually have sexual intercourse with her it’s still taking her childhood. She now needs counselling to think like a child again.”

Walker’s denial of the charges meant his victim had to give evidence in court.

Her mother, who said Walker showed “no remorse”, praised the girl’s bravery and said: “It has taken a whole year for this to be closed and we were in court for two weeks.

“My daughter had to give evidence through a video link and her video interview was played in court and she had to watch it.

“She was absolutely petrified and I had to explain to her that she has helped the police to put a bad man away.

“When I told her that he got found guilty she just ran around saying she was free.

“She has got a long path ahead of her, but I am sure she will move on from this with the help of counselling.”

The mother explained her daughter had not wanted to tell anyone what was going on, until one day she wrote down what had been happening.

She said: “She didn’t want me to cry, she didn’t want to see her mother upset. She was taking my feelings into account. It was horrific.”

The mother praised police for their response and said investigating officer Detective Sergeant Angela Murray was “the most amazing woman in the world, like a guardian angel”.

Det Sgt Murray said the victim’s mother had shown “strength and courage and gave 100 per cent support from the outset”.

She added: “She (the girl) did have to go through a trial process, but for a child of such a young age she showed quite remarkable courage.

“I am really hopeful that after the whole trial process, the guilty verdict and then the custodial sentence that it gives a small amount of comfort and will help them to move on with their lives.”

Walker will be on the sex offenders’ register for life.