Gareth Reilly 47

Description

A man raped a girl four times over a protracted period starting with an attack when she was five years old. Gareth Reilly, of Newport, has shown no remorse for the crimes which began in the early 2000s.

The 46-year-old appeared at Newport Crown Court where he was sentenced for four offences of raping a child and one of indecent assault, all against the same victim. He denied the offences but was found guilty following a trial. Judge Richard Williams said Reilly had carried out an "entrenched pattern of serious sex offending against a particularly vulnerable child".

The judge told him: "You are 46 and have not otherwise been in trouble. You maintain your innocence and there is no remorse to be taken into consideration. The probation service has found you pose a low risk of further offending in general but a high risk of a further sexual offence against a child."

There is no suggestion that Reilly, of Fairoak Avenue in Maindee, has targeted any other children, his barrister Byron Broadstock told the court. "He's a man of, until these convictions, good character. He was in employment and had been for many years. The effect [of the case] on his children and his parents has been profound... He knows he is facing a very significant sentence but beyond what I have said – given that he has been found guilty by a jury – there is little I can say."

Judge Williams said Reilly poses a "significant" risk of causing serious harm to girls and has shown "little prospect" of rehabilitation. Classing Reilly as a dangerous offender the judge handed him an extended sentence of 20 years in prison followed by four years on licence. He must serve two-thirds of the prison term in custody before he can be considered for parole.

Reilly will be on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. A hearing to decide a restraining order and sexual harm prevention order will take place on February 24.