Man jailed after abusing girl for six years at home

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a girl during a six-year period has been jailed.

Sean Healy, 76, from Gosport, Hampshire, carried out the abuse at his home.

He was found guilty of two counts of raping a girl under 13, four counts of assaulting a girl by touching and one count of assault by penetration of a girl in October.

Healy was jailed for 25 years with a further year on extended licence at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday.

"I have let what Mr Healy put me through drag me down for the past years and it has drained me," his victim said in a statement released by police.

"To this day I have been letting the trauma hold me back from achieving my goals. Today is the last day Mr Healy will hold me back."

Det Con Lucy Allan, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's child abuse investigation team, said Healy was "dangerous".

"The bravery of this girl in speaking to police and reliving the most traumatic moments of her childhood is to be commended.

"Her courage has ensured that Healy has been sent to prison where he cannot harm another child," she added.

"Crimes of this nature are some of the worst that police have to investigate, but we will do everything we can to safeguard those who have been abused, secure justice for them, and relentlessly pursue the criminals who prey on the most vulnerable members of society such as children."

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