Description
Colin Milton, from Blackpool, repeatedly raped and physically assaulted a 16-year-old girl who he was in a relationship with.
The 58-year-old was aged 36 at the time of the offences which took place between 2003 and 2005 in the Middlesbrough area.
A court heard how Milton used to lock the girl in the house to prevent her from leaving.
In April 2021, the victim reported the offences to Cleveland Police and an investigation began with specialist detectives from the Historic Investigations Unit.
At the time of the offences, the court heard the girl was too afraid to disclose what Milton was doing as he made threats to harm her family.
During the investigation, detectives uncovered Milton had also sexually abused a 12-year-old girl while at a property in the Middlesbrough area.
When Milton attended an interview to be questioned on the offences, he gave a prepared statement denying the allegations and answered no comment.
Milton, who pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday 24 February to be sentenced for rape, false imprisonment and three counts of indecency with a child.
A judge told him he would serve 26 years. He was sentenced to serve 21 years in prison and a five year extended licence on release.