Schoolgirl raped by man, 37, who befriended family

Leeds Crown Court heard the 12-year-old victim, who was having problems at the time, became infatuated with Craig Taylor after he paid attention to her.

He kept in touch with her through the MSN internet service and by text and gradually built up his physical contact with her unknown to her family who thought she just had an innocent crush on him.

The first time he touched her sexually was around Bonfire Night last year when he touched her under her top, then nearer Christmas he touched her private parts, Kitty Taylor, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

Matters came to a head in January when the girl was expected at a friend's home but did not arrive. When her mother phoned her and told her to come home she would not say where she was and eventually arrived in a state . It then emerged she had been with Taylor and had sex with him.

Taylor was arrested and bailed while inquiries were made. He recorded in his diary how he again tried to make contact with the girl without success, until she went to his home in Wakefield one afternoon to see him.

When she did not return home police went there and had to force their way inside when he would not open the door. They found him in a bedroom with the girl although no sexual activity had taken place.

Mrs Taylor said while on remand in prison Taylor had then written to the girl's mother causing further distress.

She told the court the offences had had a profound effect on the schoolgirl who is depressed and still finds it difficult to sleep.

Taylor, of Starbeck Road, Eastmoor, Wakefield, admitted one charge of rape and two of sexual activity with a child.

Michael Smith, representing him, said Taylor lived a socially isolated life and allowed an infatuation to grow up between him and the girl.

"The situation came to him rather than him seeking her out as some sort of predator."

Jailing Taylor, Judge Sally Cahill QC said he had betrayed the trust placed in him by the girl's family.

"She developed a schoolgirl crush on you, a crush that you as a man of 37 should have been able to deal with. Instead you took advantage of it."

He had written an "astonishing letter" from prison saying it was not all his fault. "Well be absolutely certain it is all your fault," said the judge.

She added that it was clear from that letter "you have absolutely no remorse whatsoever for what you have done."

She barred him from contacting the girl or her family and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life.