A man has been jailed for raping a 13-year-old girl over five times in the back of his van.
Gary Healey, 61, groomed the girl from when she was 11, initially kissing her on the mouth, Manchester Evening News reports.
The abuse progressed as Healey molested her in the back of his van and told the teenager to take her underwear off and if she didn’t ‘he would do it for her’.
Manchester Crown Court heard the grandfather went onto rape the girl five or six times over the course of a year.
When the girl turned 14 and refused his advances he said to her: “Well, you like it” and continued to pester her saying: “You won’t even let me kiss you on the cheek” and “I love you to pieces, I’d never hurt you”.
Healey, of Tyldesley, was convicted after a trial of offences of sexual assault and rape after allegedly claiming the girls were lying in their evidence before a jury.
He has now been jailed for 14 years.
Prosecuting, Charlotte Johnson said the offending began when he tried to kiss the girl, who cannot be named, when she was just 11.
“The first time he asked her to get into the back of the van, she said no and he moved to her side and then kissed her, she moved away,” she said.
“She was frightened, he took her home and even went to speak to her aunt and uncle as if nothing had happened.
“As time went on that progressed and moved from kissing her to holding onto her head whilst he kissed her on the mouth until when she was about 12 and at that stage he told her to get into the rear of the van - she was frightened and obliged.”
Healey ordered the girl to sit on a box in the rear of the van before removing his trousers and underpants, it was said.
He then told her to stand up and take off her pants and said if she didn’t "he would do it for her".
He pulled her own clothing down, then told her to lie on the box - the girl was described to be "silent, scared and feeling sick" as he touched her chest.
The prosecutor continued: “He told her to lie down and touched her body with his penis.
“The conduct was prolonged.
“He then progressed to penetration.
“He told her she liked it and she wanted him to do it and told her not to to be shy. She couldn’t speak and she was terrified. She was 13 by that stage.
“That conduct took place on five or six occasions.”
It was said that Healey’s bodily fluids were discovered by the police in the back of his van when he was arrested.
At age 14 the rapes stopped though he continued to try and sexually assault her, but she grew resistant.
Healey asked the girl if she was seeing somebody or if somebody was talking to her and asked why she was being awkward with him and if she had told anybody.
When he asked her to carry on, she said no and he told her: “Well, you like it.”
He continued to pester her, saying: “You won’t even let me kiss you on the cheek, I love you to pieces, I’ll never hurt you.”
The allegations came to light after the girl discussed the offences with her friends.
As part of the investigation, her younger sister spoke to the police and told officers that she recalled Healey "rubbing his penis" when she was sat in between him and her sister.
“He told the younger sister not to look and they would be home soon,” the prosecutor added.
In a statement read to the court, the younger sister said she felt like she ‘couldn’t say anything’ about what was happening.
She explained she didn’t really understand what it was that happened but felt ‘weird’, now she realises how serious it was.
Her older sister said she felt ‘trapped’ once she began to realise how wrong what happened to her was.
“She speaks of finding it difficult to report these events and the anger she described towards herself for ‘letting it carry on for so long’.” Ms Johnson said.
“She speaks of being embarrassed as having ‘some sort of complicity in the defendant’s offending’.
“She was frightened and now feels anger towards the defendant because of those confusing feelings.
“She trusted him completely and felt safe with him.”
The prosecutor added that there were "feelings of paralysis and fear" because of what he told her.
She also said there was grooming behaviour over a period of time which Healey offended against her, he was "coercive and possessive" and told her not to tell anyone.
Healey was said to have no previous convictions.
Mitigating, Martin Callery said his client was a man of "good character", a "hard working man and family man".
“He now faces a sentence of significant magnitude,” he said.
“He has not been able to see any member of his family.
“I ask to show some degree of mercy."
Sentencing him, Judge Rachel Smith said: “During the trial, the court was played a recording of you and the true nature in which you spoke to her. You were domineering and coercive.
“You are dyslexic, but in my judgement, I am satisfied you know exactly what you were doing at all times and you knew the consequences of your actions.
“These were distressing and abusive offences against the girls.
“You were convicted after trial having alleged that girls each deliberately lied in their evidence."
Healey, of Fountain Close, was jailed for 14 years, of which he will have to serve nine years and four months before he will be released on licence.
He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years and must sign onto the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.
Detective Lyndsey Galbraith, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: "I'd like to commend the two girls for coming forward and reporting these heinous crimes.
"Their bravery and co-operation through what must have been a very difficult and traumatic investigation for them has been vital.
"I hope his sentence provides some form of closure and comfort to them."
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