A PAEDOPHILE who sexually assaulted a young girl over a 10-year period has been sent to jail for 16 years.
Gary Nash, 39, of Tower Road, St Leonards, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court in Lansdowne Road.
He admitted two crimes of sexual assault and one of attempting to engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13.
He has been handed a 16-year sentence, eight of which will be served in prison, with the remaining eight years on extended licence.
He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be a registered sex offender for life.
Detective sergeant Oliver Bali of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Nash took advantage of his access to the victim to exploit her for his own sexual gratification without anyone else knowing, until earlier this year when she finally found the courage to speak out.
"We started enquiries at once, and swiftly arrested Nash, who admitted all the offences. He would undoubtedly have continued to offend against her, had she not very bravely reported him.”
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