A judge told Jason Richards "the mental scars that you have caused her will live with her for the rest of her life."

The defendant himself acknowledged in a letter his young victim would suffer as a result of what he had done for many years to come.

Richards, 37, of Adelaide Street, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to three charges of rape, two of sexual activity with a child and two of sexual assault.

Ciaran Rankin, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court allegations against Richards were reported to the police after the girl had initially spoken to a friend about what had happened.

Richards then disappeared only to later call the police who arrested him.

Mr Rankin told Preston Crown Court: "It appears he took an overdose and was taken to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

He then walked out of the hospital and disappeared for several hours.

"Then he contacted the police, saying he was by the canal. He was found there and arrested."

Julie Taylor, defending, said Richards would be going to prison for a long period and afterwards would be on licence for a very long period.

She told the court: "He is extremely remorseful. He just wants it on record that he is remorseful and thoroughly ashamed of what he has done.

"While in custody he intends to seek the assistance of the Probation Service, to attend the sex offenders course and once on licence, he will take every opportunity that is offered to him."

Sentencing Richards, Judge David Aubrey said: "You know only too well that I must pass a substantial period of imprisonment upon you, to reflect the gravity of these offences."

He said the defendant had committed the offences for his own "perverse sexual gratification".

Richards will be on the Sex Offenders Register and banned from working with children for the rest of his life.

He will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention order for 12 years.