AN ‘EVIL and cruel’ pervert who groomed a vulnerable 15-year-old girl before repeatedly raping her has been jailed for 11 years.

Pornography addict Paul Hayton, 59, plied the child with money, cigarettes and alcohol to sexually abuse her over a three year period, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Hayton, of Allerby Green, Woodside, Bradford, was labelled a danger to girls by Recorder John Thackray, who said the former soldier was willing to take risks to engage in deviant behaviour.

Hayton was convicted by a jury in September of three offences of rape, three counts of sexual activity with a child and a charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

While he was remanded in custody awaiting sentence, his probation officer assessed that he posed a danger to the public.

Hayton’s victim said in a statement, read out to the packed courtroom: “Words cannot describe what you have done to me. Because of you I am broken inside and out.

“You are like a constant nightmare that never goes away and will never stop torturing me.”

The young woman said she felt ugly and worthless. She had considered suicide, self-harmed and turned to alcohol to try to get Hayton out of her head.

“He is an evil, cruel, perverted man,” she stated.

In mitigation, Hayton’s barrister Stephen Uttley said his client was a self-confessed porn addict but he was a hardworking man who had served in the Army and he had no previous convictions.

Recorder Thackray said Hayton planned to abuse the girl, touching her bottom.

When she was afraid to tell her parents, he groomed her with money, cigarettes and alcohol and watched pornography in her presence.

Hayton, a widower, targeted the vulnerable teenager, who was 15 when he first raped her, the court was told.

Addressing Hayton, Recorder Thackray said: “She was a child and she made it clear that your advances were completely and utterly unwanted.”

Recorder Thackray said the complainant had suffered severe psychological harm, battling depression and anxiety, thinking of suicide and self-harming and turning to alcohol.

He told Hayton: “Your offending has had a profound effect on her and it will continue for the rest of her life.”

Hayton was given a 14-year extended prison sentence made up of 11 years in jail and three years on extended licence.

He must serve at least two thirds of the 11 years behind bars and he will not be freed until the end of the prison term unless the Parole Board decides it is safe to release him earlier.

He must sign on the sex offender register for life and the judge made an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Hayton, who wore a red casual jacket for the court hearing, sat impassively in the dock throughout the proceedings.

After the case, an NSPCC spokesman said: “Hayton’s crimes against his young victim are utterly despicable and his behaviour is a sadly all-too-familiar example of the way groomers target vulnerable children.

“His victim has shown incredible courage in speaking out and this case shows that victims can come forward with the confidence they will be listened to.

“We want every child to be able to spot exploitation for what it is and, if they find themselves in danger, know that it is categorically not their fault.

“Anyone with concerns about a child can call the NSPCC Helpline 24/7 in confidence on 0808 800 5000, children who need help can call Childline on 0800 1111.”