Child believed rapist was her boyfriend after years of abuse

Robin Matthews repeatedly abused the girl for his own 'perverted sexual purposes', when she was aged nine to 16

Robin Matthews was jailed for 27 years for the abuse which he carried out for more than 20 years (Cambridgeshire Police)

A child who was repeatedly raped by a sex attacker over several years ended up believing that the man was her boyfriend, a court heard.

Robin Matthews abused the girl for his own “perverted sexual purposes”, when she was aged between nine and 16, prosecutors said.

The girl was one of two children who Matthews had molested. His second victim, a boy, was just four when the abuse started, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

After sexually assaulting or raping each of the children, Matthews would threaten to kill them if they spoke out, telling them he would bury them alive.

The 63-year-old was jailed for 27 years for the reign of abuse that went on for more than two decades.

Judge David Farrell told Matthews he was a "vile bully, prepared to use a younger child for perverted sexual purposes".

He pointed out that one of his victims, the girl, even believed Matthews was her boyfriend because the abuse had lasted for seven years by the time it stopped when she was 16.

He added that one victim tried to speak out over the abuse, which lasted between 1970 and 1992, but was "let down by the authorities at the time" who did not believe the child.

In a victim impact statement, one of the children said felt that had their "childhood stolen away" because of the repeated rapes and sexual assaults, according to a victim .

Speaking after the verdict Detective Con Helen Tebbit told the court "I would like to thank the victims for giving evidence against Matthews," according to a BBC report.

"I know this would not have been easy, but I do hope they both find some closure knowing their abuser is now behind bars and they can move on with their lives."