A HUNTINGDON man, who lured a seven-year-old girl into his bedroom to watch morning cartoons, raped her and then prepared a cooked breakfast, has begun an eight-year jail term. John Dodson, 59, admitted 18 counts of rape, indecent assault and gross indece

A HUNTINGDON man, who lured a seven-year-old girl into his bedroom to watch morning cartoons, raped her and then prepared a cooked breakfast, has begun an eight-year jail term.

John Dodson, 59, admitted 18 counts of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency on a child, who this week told The Hunts Post the attacks had "ruined" her life.

The charges related to a 10 to 12-month period in the 1980s at an address in Norfolk Road, Huntingdon, Peterborough Crown Court heard on Monday.

The "profound effect" of the assaults upon his victim was very clear, said Mr Recorder Vivian Robinson QC, who sentenced Dodson to eight years for the rape offences, 18 months for indecent assault charges and nine months for gross indecency, to be served concurrently.

When left alone with Dodson, while other adults were out at work in the early mornings, the girl was invited into his bedroom to watch cartoons.

Prosecutor John Snell said Dodson, who was 38 at the time, would make his victim lie on the bed and would assault and rape her. Afterwards, Dodson made his young victim watch him while he committed indecent acts in the bathroom.

"He then prepared a full cooked breakfast which they would share," Mr Snell said.

Dodson warned the child, now in her 20s, not to tell anyone about the episodes, but the girl did share her secret with a friend and an aunt.

As an adult, Dodson's victim began to suffer from panic attacks and these were exacerbated by his regular visits to see her own child. Even after telling members of her family of the assaults, the truth still did not emerge for a further four years, the prosecutor said.

Dodson, of Station Road, Abbots Ripton, was finally arrested in May last year, when he denied rape but admitted the other charges.

He told police he was "disgusted" with himself and that the offences had been on his mind for years.

In a statement, the woman said she felt robbed of her childhood and was still nervous around men.

She had suffered from depression and, at one stage, refused to leave her house for three months.

Claire Matthews, defending, said Dodson was "full of shame" for the offences, which had "haunted" him for many years.

He initially denied the rape charges as he had "no recollection of what had happened. He still says he accepts the young woman at her word".

Since pleading guilty to all the charges on March 7, when he was due to stand trial on the rape charges, Dodson had signed the Sexual Offenders' Register, Miss Matthews said.