A PERVERT who abused a little girl over a six-year period has been jailed for four years.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Michael Burrows' victim, a previously talented student, was so traumatised by what had happened to her she was left struggling at school and needing counselling.

The 64-year-old, of Crow-trees, Roughlee, admitted two counts of indecent assault, one of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one charge of sexual assault, between 1999 and 2005.

He was banned from working with children and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Judge Christopher Cornwall also made him the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, banning him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 and from allowing anyone under 16 into his home.

The judge told Burrows his behaviour was calculating and an "extensive course of misconduct of an extremely grave nature".

He said the consequences of abuse were devastasting and the defendant had "cast a very dark shadow" over the victim's childhood. The judge continued: "The sentence I pass must reflect the public's utter abhorrence and unequivocal condemnation of your behaviour."

Prosecutor Francis McEntee told the court the defendant groomed the young girl for his conduct.

The offences were specimen allegations. The abuse ended in the summer of 2005.

Mr McEntee said the victim may have kept of lot of the effects of Burrows' behaviour to herself. Her school initiated counselling after outbursts with teachers and other pupils.

She would not talk to her mother about the incidents and the impact upon her and at one point went missing.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Burrows had faced the fact he had offended and was trying to work out why he did it.

The defendant had told probation officers his behaviour made him feel sick and awful and yet gave him physical and sexual pleasure.