A Leicestershire man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a child more than two decades ago. Carl Hamilton, 39, of Welland Park Road, Market Harborough, was convicted at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

The victim, now an adult, approached police in November 2019 to report the abuse, which first occurred when she was three years old in 1999. She told officers that Hamilton had raped her for the first time in 1999 and continued to assault and rape her until 2002.

Hamilton refused to comment on the allegations during police questioning. However, after a trial, he was found guilty of five counts of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14 and three counts of raping her.

Detective Constable Aisling McPhillips, the investigating officer, praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward. “When the abuse started, she was just three years old. She was completely unaware that what he was doing to her was completely and utterly abhorrent,” McPhillips said.

Despite the severity of the allegations, Hamilton refused to admit his crimes, meaning the victim had to relive her ordeal again in front of a jury. Thankfully, they saw through his lies.”

McPhillips expressed hope that the verdict would provide the victim with some degree of closure and allow her to move on with her life. She also emphasized the importance of reporting sexual abuse, no matter how much time has passed. “I hope this case serves as a reminder to other victims of sexual abuse that it’s never too late to report it to police.”

Hamilton’s conviction and sentencing highlight the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to bring perpetrators of historical sexual abuse to justice and support survivors in their pursuit of justice.