A MAN has been jailed for 15 years after he was found guilty by a jury of raping and sexually abusing a girl he plied with alcohol and controlled with fear and psychological pressure.

Andrew Hollingworth, 40, was labelled “dominant and manipulative” when he was sentenced by Judge David Hatton QC yesterday who said he had repeatedly used his victim for his own sexual gratification.

Hollingworth, formerly of Bierley, Bradford, but now of Hornsea Road, Skipsea, East Yorkshire, sat in the dock at Bradford Crown Court with his head buried in his hands after he was convicted by the jury of raping a child under 13, two further offences of rape and two counts of sexual assault.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore said the girl was 12-years-old when Hollingworth first raped her.

He gave her an alcoholic drink before grabbing her by the hair and violating her, the jury was told.

He raped her again when she was 14, making her feel worthless, and a third time when she was in her late teens, while she cried and tried to scream.

His victim told how Hollingworth called her a liar and said no-one would believe her if she told what he had done to her.

Since she told the police in 2015, she had lost weight and hated looking at herself in the mirror.

Hollingworth had ruined her life and she had moved home to start afresh.

“The whole process caused me so much pain,” she said.

Amanda Johnson, Hollingworth’s barrister, told the court that since her client was arrested he had attempted suicide, been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and was now mentally very fragile.

He had never received a prison sentence before.

Sentencing him, Judge Hatton said Hollingworth, who wore a grey striped jumper in court, had spiked the girl’s drink to abuse her and almost every time he abused her he had encouraged her to drink alcohol.

“You used her for your own sexual gratification on five occasions, the first when she was 12 years of age when you committed rape upon her,” Judge Hatton told him.

“This period of abuse was achieved to a large extent by your domination and manipulation of her. The effects of these incidents of abuse upon her emotions have been very considerable indeed. It was very apparent to all who saw her and heard her.

“You exerted fear and psychological pressure but she found the courage to expose you.”

Holingworth’s conviction for rape of a child under 13 made him an offender of particular concern, the court heard.

He must serve half of his sentence before he can even be considered for parole and he might spend the whole of the 15 years behind bars.

Judge Hatton made a restraining order without limit of time banning Hollingworth from contacting his victim.

He must also sign on the sex offender register for an indefinite period.