A man from Essex who subjected a young victim to years of abuse and manipulation has been jailed.

Gary Staines, 66 of Marks Hall Lane in Margaret Roding appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (December 1) where he was sentenced to 19 years in prison for indecent offences which took place in the 90s, over a nine-year period.

The victim in this investigation bravely came to Essex Police in June 2020 to report her experiences which led to an investigation by Essex Police’s quest team.

Staines had subjected the young victim to years of abuse and manipulation, beginning in 1991.

Following complex enquiries, Staines was arrested and charged with four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 and one count of incitement to commit an act of gross indecency.

His trial at Chelmsford Crown Court concluded on November 1 and after being found guilty, he appeared in court yesterday where he was sentenced to 19 years in prison with an extended licence of one year.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jane Egerton said: “I really commend the victim in this case, who demonstrated immense bravery during a long investigation.

“These are complex investigations but there is often a misconception that a report needs to be made right away and that there needs to be forensic evidence to get a result.

“This is not the case and we appreciate that victims of abuse may not be in the position to report right away.

“Staines manipulated the victim into thinking his actions were normal which is often the situation with cases such as these. We must not underestimate the detrimental effect that abuse can have on a victim.

"Victims are often worried that they will not be believed, or they may feel embarrassed or ashamed that they have not come forward before.

"Our quest team are trained in dealing with investigations such as these and if you’re a victim, you will be believed and you will be supported.

“We also work closely with Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) who can provide specialist support which is totally independent from the police.”

Synergy Essex provides support and guidance for survivors of sexual and sexual abuse across Essex.

For more information about how to get support, visit their website synergyessex.org.uk.