A CO Fermanagh man was jailed for 14 years yesterday for the rape of a nine-year child during a game of hide-and-seek.
Richard Francis (37), of Willougby Place, Enniskillen, was found guilty after a 10-day trial at Dungannon Crown Court in May.
Francis had denied two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault on various dates during 2006.
The jury heard how the abuse began during a game of hide-and-seek. Francis later he re-established contact with the victim, who challenged him about his behaviour and he claimed to have thought she "wanted him to".
Then aged 26, he first sexually abused the child in a shed when the girl played with other children while visiting a relative.
During one game of hide and seek, Francis took her into a shed, where he touched her chest under her T-shirt, and warned her to tell no one.
The next occasion she found herself in the shed with Francis, his behaviour escalated to rape.
During another incident he locked his sister in her bedroom before raping the victim at his home.
The abuse ceased but after several years, Francis initiated text contact. Some of these exchanges, which he denied sending, were read in court.
He asked why the victim never came to his area any more. On being rebuffed, he asked why she was angry with him.
The victim challenged Francis stating, "I was nine. You raped me."
He replied, "I'm sorry ... I hope to be dead soon."
The victim said, "Sorry isn't good enough ... Was I the only one you raped?"
Francis said, "Yes. I thought you wanted me to."
She replied: "I was nine. I wanted to be the queen then."
When Francis asked what she wanted him to do, she said: "I don't care what you do ... You should be in prison ... You are as bad as Jimmy Savile."
A jury found Francis guilty of the charges he faced. Passing sentence yesterday at Dungannon Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, Judge Neil Rafferty QC said a victim report showed that the complainant has suffered "severe psychological harm'' as result of sexual assaults.
Judge Rafferty jailed Rafferty for 14 years for one count of rape and sentenced him to 14 years concurrent on the second rape charge.
