Scott Banks 28

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The abuse has left the girl suffering with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A paedophile manipulated and threatened a young girl who he was subjecting to sex acts. Scott Banks abused the child over a prolonged period before claiming that he loved her.

Swansea Crown Court heard the offending has had a significant impact on the child, leaving her suffering with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and leading her to struggle at school as well as to self-harm.

Helen Randall, prosecuting, said that after meeting the child, Banks acquired her mobile phone number and began communicating with her. He then started asking the girl - who he knew was under 16 - for sex, requests the youngster "did not think she could say no to" as she did not want to make him angry.

The barrister said the sex acts went on for a prolonged period and when, on occasions, the girl would refuse to do what the defendant wanted he would threaten to smash her possessions and tell people what was going on. The prosecutor said the girl would later describe how she was felt "disgusted" at what Banks was doing.

In a statement which was read to the court by the prosecutor, the girl said the offending had left her suffering with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She said her experiences at the hands of Banks had changed her as a person, had impacted her education, and caused her to self-harm.

Scott Banks, aged 25, of Southville Road, Sandfields, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has two previous convictions for four offences including criminal damage and assaults by beating.

Nicola Powell, for Banks, said it was clear from reports into the defendant that he was "immature" and that there were "concerns about his cognitive abilities". She told the court it was perhaps a sign of his "immaturity" that he had said he was in love with the girl. The barrister said the defendant had witnessed domestic violence as a child, experiences which had had a "marked effect" on him.

Judge Geraint Walters told Banks he appeared to be a "somewhat manipulative, maybe domineering" individual who effectively threatened the girl "if she did not yield to your demands". With a 20 per cent discount for his guilty pleas Banks was sentenced to four years in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to control his access to girls.

As a victim of a sexual offence, Banks' victim has life-long legal anonymity.