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A rape victim who was "prostituted out" from the age of nine finally has justice after four of her abusers - including a man from Sowerby - were jailed for a total of more than 50 years.

The vulnerable little girl's innocence and childhood were stolen by a campaign of horrific abuse after someone offered her to a series of men in return for money, alcohol and cigarettes.

Four men convicted of 37 sex offences against the victim after a trial earlier this year have now been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for multiple rapes and indecent assaults.

The court heard the victim, who was left severely psychologically traumatised, was abused by others who have not yet been brought to justice.

Colin Ankers, who repeatedly raped the girl from the age of nine, was jailed for 21 years while three others who abused her in her teens were also locked up - Philip Taylor got 17 years, Paul Cavner nine years and Darren Smith, who was a youth at the time, six years.

'Used as a sex object... for drink, cigarettes and money'

Sentencing them, Judge Tim Gittins told the perverts: "The case related to the vile and despicable abuse of a young girl by all four of you.

"Each of you played a part to a greater or lesser extent in her miserable years from the age of nine to 14, involving the loss of her innocence, the loss of her childhood really, by the abuse and degradation of being used as a sex object by all of you, in return for favours - drink, cigarettes and money.

"She was effectively being prostituted out to men such as you.

"The sad fact is, as far as she is concerned, you are about half of her abusers, that have been capable of being identified.

"The verdicts and sentences should sound as a clarion that true victims will be believed and time is neither a defence nor a barrier to the conviction of true offenders."

The court heard Ankers was the first of the four to rape the girl, when she was just nine, and it became a regular occurence.

The young victim naively thought she was in a relationship with him but he was merely using her as a sex object, the judge said.

Taylor had already indecently assaulted a babysitter in the late 1980s, for which he got a suspended prison sentence.

As well as abusing the main victim in the current case when she around 13, he was also convicted of molesting another young girl when she was about 13.

Cavner's sexual abuse was more isolated but one vile incident prompted the by now under-nourished girl to finally seek refuge.

Smith was just 16 when he abused the victim, on one occasion joining in with an unknown older man while he raped her. He went on to rape her a number of other times.

The victim said in a statement read to the court that being cross-examined during the case and branded a liar made her feel she was the one on trial but she feels she now has the closure needed to move on.

She added: "I feel like I have been given a voice and have been believed by the police, who have not judged me and have given me support throughout the process."

She said her horrific childhood has affected her whole life and she has post traumatic stress disorder and suffers flashbacks and nightmares.

The sentences

Ankers, 46, of Waterville Road, North Shields, was found guilty of 14 counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault. He was jailed for 21 years with an extended licence period of a further year.

Taylor, 61, of Whiteley Avenue, Sowerby, West Yorkshire, was convicted of three counts of rape on the main victim and four counts of indecent assault on the other girl. He was jailed for 17 years.

Cavner, 55, of Crofton Street, Blyth, was found guilty of one count of rape and one of indecent assault and was jailed for nine years.

Smith, 36, of Irene Avenue, Stoke-on-Trent, was convicted of five counts of rape and five indecent assaults and was jailed for six years, a sentence reduced due to the fact he was a youth at the time.

Ankers' barrister said that at the time of the offences, his mother had recently died and his marriage was in trouble and he was drinking heavily.

The court heard Taylor's wife is disabled and is struggling to cope since he has been locked up.

Cavner's barrister said he had worked all his life until he was subjected to a "horrendous attack" by three or four men in Blyth in 2007.

The court heard Smith's offending came towards the end of the period of wider abuse and there are "people who speak well of him".

'Incredible bravery'

An NSPCC spokesperson said: "The incredible bravery shown by this woman ensured the sick individuals who exploited her for their own vile appetites could be brought to justice.

"Her courage should be praised, and we would urge anyone who has experienced sexual abuse to speak out and seek support, as this case proves that time is no barrier to justice."

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111. Adults seeking advice on reporting historic abuse can phone 0808 8005000.