Description
He was found guilty of 37 charges and handed a long prison sentence at Truro Crown Court
An opportunist sex offender who subjected a young girl to a campaign of rape and sexual abuse has been told he may never be released.
Scott Glover, 43, from the Camborne area, has been jailed for more than 20 years after being found guilty of a total of 37 charges relating to a single victim, a girl under 16.
The indictment levelled against Glover originally consisted of 10 sexual assaults, 12 counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, six rapes and nine instances of sexual activity with a child.
Glover, who worked in a garage in Helston, denied all the charges, saying they were utterly false.
Glovers trial underway at Truro Crown Court last week, and a jury returned its verdicts on Tuesday (December 13) after six and a half hours of deliberation.
The jury convicted him of 37 of the 38 counts. He was found not guilty of one of the rape charges.
Opening the case last week, Sean Brunton, QC, said the victim on occasions considered killing herself because of the secret she was keeping.
The girl eventually confided in her friend and then went to her schools student liaison officer before the allegations were passed to the police.
Mr Brunton added: She was confused, dazed and described what had happened to her as surreal.
During sentencing, the court heard how the abuse against the victim was long-term and systematic.
Glover made the child wear "sexy underwear" and use a vibrator for his own sexual gratification, as well as showing her adult pornography.
This escalated to sexual assault and rape. During the rapes Glover would sometimes, but not always, wear a condom and the victim first took the contraceptive pill aged 13.
In mitigation, Glover's barrister Heather Hope said his actions will also have severe consequences on his own family.
There is very little I can say," she told the judge. "Mr Glover has been a man who has worked hard and in all other respects has been a family man and provided for his family.
There are many victims in this case. He was the only person in his family earning money, his wife does not work, and there is not going to be money to pay for the mortgage or a car. The financial cushion the family had is gone. His family are to be financially vulnerable.
That is not to take away the effect on her (the victim) and Mr Glover is aware of the contents of the victim impact statements. There are good qualities Mr Glover has, though that doesnt minimise what has happened.
Prior to sentencing Mrs Hope pleaded with Judge Simon Carr to sentence Glover in the new year so he could spend "one last Christmas" with his family. But the request was denied.
"He has shown not a shred of remorse," Judge Carr said.
Sentencing Glover to 22 years in prison, plus an additional year on licence, Judge Carr said: You have been found guilty by a jury of long term and systematic abuse. She (the victim) described you as an opportunist paedophile and that is precisely what you are.
As she got older she felt more able to speak out. Her interview was striking not just because of the detail but the length of it, in fact she spoke for almost two hours, to unburden herself of what you had done.
Her life has been devastated, she will carry the effects of what you did for the rest of her life. You have shown not one iota of remorse for what you did, which was purely for your own gratification.
Glover showed no emotion throughout sentencing.
He must sign the sex offenders register for life and will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least two thirds of his sentence.
But I find it difficult to ever envisage a time when it will be safe for you to be released," Judge Carr added.
An NSPCC spokeswoman for the South West of England said: Glover brazenly pursued and groomed a young girl over many years to fulfil his own perverted sexual desires.
As a survivor of sexual abuse this girl has courageously spoken out about what was happening, which has prevented her abuser from inflicting harm on other children.
She has shown extreme bravery in doing so, and its important she is provided with the necessary support going forward.