A MAN who sexually groomed a young girl over a five-year period has been jailed for three years.

After Peter Magowan had been convicted of 12 charges, a jury heard how the victim had been deeply affected by the abuse.

“I have days when I don’t want to get up in the morning, but I have to be strong, not for my own sake but for my family,” she said in a statement.

Magowan, of Livingstone Road, Gillingham, was told by Judge Jeremy Carey that his behaviour was “truly appalling”.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that he started abusing the girl when she was aged seven at his then home in Rochester.

It was not revealed until June last year, when she told a teaching assistant at her school.

Louise Marshall, prosecuting, said the girl was in and out of Magowan’s home and did jobs for him.

She was to tell police that Magowan would kiss her and lay on top of her with no clothes on. She explained that he would “take very opportunity” to touch her when she walked past him.

The victim, now aged 13, said Magowan asked her to get into his bath with him. On one occasion she went to help him clear his loft and found he was wearing only a top and no underwear.

Miss Marshall said Magowan, now 59, would pull down the girl’s trousers and touch her, asking: “Do you like it when I do this? You know I am only playing.”

The girl swore at him and told him to get off, but he told her he would just do it more. He also showed her a pornographic film.

“As she got older and reached the age of 12, she told someone because it was upsetting her,” said the prosecutor. “She told a friend and from that point she went with her when she went to his home.”

When interviewed by police, the victim said she had nightmares over what happened to her.

Magowan denied there had been any sexual touching. He pleaded not guilty to four charges of indecent assault, seven of sexual assault and one of causing a child to watch a sex act.

Magowan will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life and was banned from working with children or being in their company without an adult present.