A CUMBRIAN pensioner convicted of repeatedly raping a child has been jailed for 20 years.

At Carlisle Crown Court, a judge told 71-year-old Harold Nicholson that he had “terrified” his victim into not telling anybody about the rapes, which the prosecution said happened on at least ten occasions and began when she was aged 11.

Nicholson denied the allegations. But after a trial he was convicted of five rapes. In her personal statement, the victim - now an adult - said Nicholson warned her he would kill her and members of family if she told anybody.

Nicholson, of Holywell Crescent, Botcherby, Carlisle,who continues to deny the rapes, has 70 offences on his criminal record, which include serious violence but no previous sexual offences. .

Detective Constable Kerry Gibson, North Cumbria Crime and Safeguarding Team, praised the victim's courage, saying: “It's understandably difficult and distressing for victims of rape to talk about what happened to them, but the courage this victim has shown has enabled us to provide justice."

Recorder Ciaran Rankin put the defendant on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.