A MAN has been jailed for sexually abusing a girl ten times over a three-year period.
Dean Roland Paddock was jailed for 18 years for ten counts of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 13.
The retired 56-year-old of Langbury Lane, Ferring, was a retained firefighter with West Sussex Fire and Rescue up until 2009.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges. These included four rapes and six sexual assaults, committed against the same victim over a period of three years while she was aged between nine and 12.
Detective Constable Rebecca Hazzard, of Sussex Police's child protection team, said: "This was one of the most complex and harrowing cases of sexual abuse I have ever investigated.
"The long custodial sentence imposed on Paddock reflected the gravity of the crimes committed."
His trial at Lewes Crown Court lasted from July 6 to July 16.
Paddock was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders' register.
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