A judge has praised a sexual abuse victim’s exceptional courage after her abuser was jailed for almost 20 years.
Judge Michael Maher said the girl – who was just six when the abuse began and is now a teenager – had shown maturity well beyond her years in how she dealt with the trial she was forced to go through by her abuser.
The comments came as dangerous sexual predator Ben Slaney was sentenced to 18 years. He will have to serve at least 12 years in prison before he is considered for parole.
Slaney, 33, of Portland Road, Blackpool had denied the abuse and claimed his victim was making it up but after a trial a jury saw through his lies and he was found guilty of three charges of sexual touching, covering multiple incidents over a three-year period; sexual assault by penetration and making category A and B images of children.
He was jailed at Preston Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, March 18th) where he was also given a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a lifetime restraining order.
Slaney will be on the sex offenders register for life.
In a statement read to the court the victim said words could not describe how much she envied a life of never having been put through her ordeal.
She added: “I’ve endured a life of pain since the first time that man took advantage, of the little girl I once was.
“I stand proud of myself for defending what’s right as I know he will be on a register for the rest of his life because of his actions. I have helped achieve justice not only for myself, but also for potential others. I still find myself wondering how different my childhood could have been if I wasn’t forced to grow up so soon.
“I hope this conviction will give courage to any too scared yet to speak, or too young yet to understand.”
Det Con Lucy Cross, of Blackpool Police, said: “First and foremost I would like to praise the courage and tenacity of the victim in this case. She has shown incredible bravery firstly in speaking out about what happened to her and then in facing down Slaney when he accused her of lying and dragging her through a trial. I am in awe of her.
“Slaney is clearly a dangerous paedophile who has preyed on a vulnerable victim and who has shown no remorse for his actions. I welcome this sentence and I hope it gives others who may have suffered similar abuse the confidence to speak out in the knowledge that Lancashire police will listen, will investigate with professionalism and sensitivity and will aim to put offenders before the courts.”
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