A WINYATES man has been jailed for more than 20 years after raping and abusing a girl in the 1980s and ’90s.
Tony James, from Ibstock Close, groomed the youngster at an address in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, over five years from the age of four.
The 62-year-old would sexually assault her on a whim and would even take her to brothels whilst he had sex with prostitutes.
James had previously physically and sexually assaulted another girl and boy at a flat in Turves Green, Birmingham.
The girl – who was aged between four and ten-years-old – was forced to play indecent games, repeatedly assaulted and ducked under water as a bed-wetting punishment.
The boy, who was between six and eight, was also indecently assaulted by James after drinking sessions.
He would beat them sometimes with a stick, and regularly forced his female victim to touch him inappropriately when he visited the bathroom.
He was arrested in October 2012 and charged with a total of 19 counts of indecency with a child, child cruelty, indecent assault and rape.
But in interviews James maintained the allegations were fabricated and that the children colluded to invent their stories
Last month he was found guilty of all 19 counts and on Thursday (November 6) he was jailed for 22 years at Birmingham Crown Court.
Investigating officer, DC Gemma Dixon, said: “He is one of the most cold-hearted offenders we’ve encountered. He used the children for his own sexual gratification and often abused them on a whim.
“He’s shown no remorse and didn’t display any emotion when statements were read out in court detailing how his victims were traumatised by what happened and continue to suffer to this day.
She added: “The victims showed commendable courage to draw a line under the abuse they suffered as children and to see their attacker face justice.”
