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A man, described as an "abhorrent criminal" by police, has been jailed for 18 years for historic child sex offences.

Owen Evers, 61, of Rishworth Close, Hull was sentence on 8 May after he was found guilty of rape, sexual activity and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at Hull Crown Court.

Evers has also been given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.

In a statement read to the court, Evers' victim said they would "never forget" what had happened to them but said "it will not define my life going forward".

They added: "I suffered horrendous sexual abuse for several years during my childhood and didn’t dare speak out against my abuser for a long time.

"It’s so sad to think that for so long I didn’t even realise that I was being abused because it seemed normal."

In total, Evers was found guilty of twelve different counts by the jury, including two of rape.

DC Sarah Mann from Humberside Police described the case as "harrowing" and criticised Evers for putting his victim through a trial.

She said: "Evers preyed on and manipulated an innocent, vulnerable child for a number of years for his own perverse sexual gratification.

"The sentence will by no means take away any pain and suffering caused, but it does mean that this abhorrent criminal will be behind bars for a very long time, unable to inflict such incomprehensible emotional and physical harm to anyone else".

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