A PENSIONER who repeatedly raped a vulnerable teenage girl has been jailed for ten years.

Christopher Williams, a father-of-two, befriended the child when he gave her lifts from her home in Marlborough to Swindon in Swindon in the 1970s.

The 72-year-old started having sex with the child against her will in Savernake Forest when she was just 14.

Williams insisted they had consensual sex just once shortly before she turned 16 and once she was of age they had a 'loving relationship'.

But a jury rejected his version of events and found him guilty of two counts of rape and three of indecent assault, while he admitted to a fourth count.

The court heard Williams was living in Ogbourne St Andrew when he met the girl in Swindon.

Passing sentence at Swindon Crown Court, Recorder Sarah Vaughan Jones QC said: "You didn't use violence but you made it clear she was going to do what you wanted.

"You told her in letters that you loved her, also that what was happening to her was your secret between her and God: her body belonged to you and God.

"You told her if she told anyone no one would believe her because of your position in the church. The contact ended when you wife found a note about meeting.

"Though you had no formal position in the church your standing in the church was high. This affected her confidence and relationships since."

As well as jailing him for 10 years she said he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his days.

Earlier Fiona Elder, defending, said her client had a number of ailments and his wife has been in a care home for about five years with Huntingdon's Disease.

She said aside from the offences he was convicted of he had not been in trouble with the police before or after.

Williams had been accused of raping the child, now a woman in her 50s, starting when she was just 12 years old in 1975, but was cleared of offences when she was aged 13 and under.

Despite the abuse taking place 40 years ago the woman said she was prompted to come forward in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

She said Williams, who worked as a farm manager, used to tell her, 'As long as we ask God for forgiveness he will forgive us,' and that her body belonged to him and God, not her.

Williams, now of Stoke Canon, Exeter, denied five counts of rape and six of indecent assault, admitting one indecent assault.

The jury found him guilty of two rape and three indecent assaults, all by unanimous verdicts apart from one of the rapes, which was by a majority of 10 to two.

Detective Sergeant Gareth Kitchener, of Wiltshire Police, said: “I am pleased with the sentence given out and I am hopeful that it will encourage other victims of sexual assault to find the strength to come forward and report offences - justice will be done.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the bravery of the victim in coming forward and reporting this incident.  

“Anyone wishing to report a crime should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.

“Victims can also seek support and counselling from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) based at the New Swindon Sanctuary, The Gables, Shrivenham Road, Swindon.

“The SARC is a dedicated centre offering support to any victim of a sexual assault where trained professionals can provide immediate medical care and treatment, a forensic examination, counselling and onward referral to other necessary services.

“The SARC offers a 24-hour helpline on 0808 168 0024 or log onto www.newswindonsanctuary.co.uk.”