A man who brutally raped a 13-year-old girl who he had been sexually abusing has been jailed for 15 years.

Christopher Mims, 33, of Pinewood Way, Colerne, had been molesting the youngster since she was about 11, when he forced himself on the child.

After raping the girl, Mims continued to have sex with her until she found the courage to put a stop to the abuse when she was 14.

And even then the father-of-two tried to suggest it was as much her fault it had had taken place.

Robert Duval, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court today that Mims was living in Colerne when he targeted the girl in the summer of 2004.

He said the defendant's partner had just had a baby when he started to pay attention to the girl, who at the time was nearly 12.

Mr Duval said Mims, who was then in his mid twenties, would routinely touch the child and get her to carry out indecent acts on him.

When she was 13 he engineered a situation where he was alone with her and raped her.

"He forcefully entered her. It was not, she describes, a particularly gentle act," said Mr Duval.

"The prosecution say throughout she made it clear she was not consenting."

In the following years Mims had sex with her on a number of occasions until she put a stop to it when she was 14, having met someone her own age.

"Following that encounter with a younger boy she had the courage to stop what had been taking place," said Mr Duval.

"He suggested to her it was as much her responsibility as his, what had taken place."

Mr Duval said she finally confided in others and then went to the police in 2012 to tell them what had taken place.

Mims initially pleaded guilty to molesting the youngster but denied charges of rape.

But on the day of trial he admitted one of the allegations and then insisted that they had had consensual sex before a jury could be sworn in.

He pleaded guilty to one rape, six counts of sexual assault and two of sexual activity with a child.

Marcus Davey, defending, said though his client was significantly older, and in a relationship with an adult, he was an immature man at the time.

Since the offences came to light he said he had lost his job and contact with his two children after his relationship broke down.

He was living at home with his parents awaiting the trial date, though was remanded in custody after entering his pleas.

Jailing him, Judge Douglas Field said: "One of the features in the case which will be reflected in your sentence is the very significant affect it has had on the victim.

"I have read her victim impact statement. The psychological damage you have done to her is profound and will be long lasting.

"You offended against this girl on a regular and prolonged basis. On one occasion you raped her and you were having regular sexual intercourse with her while she was under 16."

As well as jailing Mims for 15 years he also imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting the woman for 12 years.

He also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, restricting Mims' liberty, for the same period and told him he must register as a sex offender for life.