A PERVERT who repeatedly raped a schoolgirl has been jailed for 12 years.

Gary Abson, 53, kissed the victim, fondled her, committed sex acts on her, and then had intercourse with her.

She was to tell police Abson had had sex with her ‘too many times to count’, and if she had tried to stop him, he would ‘rag her about’, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The hearing was told Abson was said to have produced red lacy underwear and tried to get the girl to wear it so he could take a photo, but she refused.

Abson left the area with his belongings, and laptop computer, after the victim went to the police, but was arrested the day after when he returned to Bacup.

He suggested to police he had taken some tablets and was immediately taken to hospital.

Abson was questioned by officers and denied raping the girl.

He accepted he had sexually touched her, but alleged the victim had encouraged him. Abson claimed he was disgusted by his behaviour.

The defendant, of Ribble Street, has been assessed by the probation service as posing a significant risk of serious harm.

He admitted two counts of rape, and four allegations of assault by penetration. They are specimen charges.

Abson, who will be on the sex offenders’ register for life, was given a sexual offences prevention order, which Judge Jonathan Gibson said was needed to protect young girls.

Under the order, Abson is banned from having any unsupervised contact, or communication, with any child under 16.

He is not allowed to use any device capable of accessing the internet, unless it has the cap-acity to retain and display the history of internet use and he makes it available to the police for inspection on request.

He is prohibited from deleting any history, and cannot have any device capable of storing dig- ital images unless he makes it available to the police on request.

Abson, who had no previous convictions, had been in custody since last September 21.

Laura Barbour, for Abson, said: “He recognises what he has done is nothing short of desp- icable.”

Judge Gibson, who told the defendant rape was a serious and deeply damaging crime, said: “It will have long-term psychological effects upon the victim.”