An Ampthill man who sexually abused a girl when she was aged 11 and 12 was jailed for seven years on Thursday, March 10, 2022.
Robert Taylor-Lord, 34, exploited the fact that the girl was frightened of him, Luton Crown Court heard.
She was in court to hear Judge Gary Lucie praise her bravery in coming forward to give evidence.
He said: “No sentence I can pass put it right, but I hope the fact that the jury believed you provides some comfort.”
Prosecutor David Matthew said the offences were carried out between mid 2019 and November 2019.
He read a victim personal statement from the girl in which she said she had been struggling at school and had fallen behind with her work.
She said: “Everything has been stressful. Giving evidence and reliving it all has made me feel stressed . You feel you are not believed.”
Mr Matthew said the girl was frightened of Taylor-Lord and had initially been too scared to say what he had done.
Taylor-Lord of Spring Close, Ampthill was convicted of six counts of sexual assault on a child aged under 13.
He was cleared of one similar charge. He denied the offences took place and continues to do so, the court heard.
Defence Marion Smullen said he was of previous good character and had always been hardworking.
She said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He had also been diagnosed with depression before his arrest. Judge Lucie jailed him and said he must sign the sex offender register for life.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order includes a condition that he must not contact the victim.
