AN EVIL pervert has been jailed for 11 years for the “relentless and remorseless” sexual abuse of a little girl when she was aged between four and six.

Graham Dunstan, 67, plied the child with sweets while routinely molesting her and called her a liar after she complained to her mother.

Dunstan was yesterday found guilty by a jury at Bradford Crown Court of seven offences of sexually assaulting a child under 13.

Prosecutor Matthew Bean read out a statement from the little girl’s mother in which she said the family would be affected for the rest of their lives.

“It really breaks my heart that my daughter feels so guilty about telling the truth,” she said.

The child now became upset and emotional over little things and sometimes wished she had never spoken up about what Dunstan had done to her, the court heard.

Mr Bean said Dunstan, of Main Street, Stanbury, Keighley, had showed grooming behaviour to the child, taking her to the sweet shop.

Dunstan’s barrister, Mark Brookes, urged Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC not to jail him for so long that he never saw the light of day again.

“It should not be a sentence that in practical terms may mean the defendant dies in prison,” Mr Brookes said.

But Judge Durham Hall said Dunstan’s age and lack of previous convictions were irrelevant.

He told him: “You relentlessly abused her, and whether 37 or 67, you knew how terribly wrong it was.”

Judge Durham Hall said the little girl was loved and cherished by her family.

Speaking to Dunstan, who sat in the dock flanked by security officers, the judge said: “You were routinely, relentlessly and remorselessly abusing her.

“You were using her as a sexual object until she had had enough and found the courage to tell her mother. It was every mother’s nightmare.

“You called your accusers evil but it was you that was evil, Mr Dunstan.

“You shake your head even now; a staggering denial of responsibility.”

Judge Durham Hall said the girl was particularly vulnerable because of young age.

“Better to blame a little girl, and call her a liar, and to implicate her family, claiming it to be a conspiracy, than to face up to what you have done,” the judge said.

Judge Durham Hall passed a 12 year sentence, labelling Dunstan an offender of particular concern.

He was imprisoned for 11 years with a one year extended licence period.

The judge made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, without limit of time, banning Dunstan from contacting the child, living at the same address as any girl under 16 and having unsupervised contact with any underage girl.

He must sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

After the case, Detective Constable Chantel Markham, of Bradford Safeguarding team, said: “This was an extremely upsetting case for the victim and her family. I hope that today’s result can bring some closure for those affected. I cannot praise the victim enough for having the courage to speak out, she has been brave and courageous during this court process.

"We would always encourage victims to come forward to the police, our specialist team will take all reports seriously, deal with them sensitively and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

Aftre the case, an NSPCC spokesman said: “Dunstan carried out appalling abuse on a vulnerable young child and is now rightly behind bars.

“He knew his ‘relentless and remorseless’ behaviour was wrong and we hope his victim is now receiving all possible help and support to overcome what has happened to her.  

“We need to ensure that children who have been abused by predators like Dunstan feel confident to come forward, safe in the knowledge that their voices will be heard and that justice can be achieved.

“That’s why the NSPCC is visiting primary schools across the country, including in Bradford, with its ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’ service, empowering children to protect themselves from abuse and to speak out if they ever experience it.”