Spent years subjecting a schoolgirl to sexual assaults.

Man jailed for sexually assaulting schoolgirl, despite protesting innocence

Alan Owens, 52, was sentenced on Thursday for subjecting a schoolgirl to years of sexual abuse in the 1990s. Despite being found guilty at trial, Owens continues to maintain his innocence.

The victim, who was a primary school student at the time of the abuse, detailed the devastating impact Owens' actions had on her life. In a statement read to the court, she described suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and night terrors. She also shared her gratitude for the jury's verdict, saying, "The best thing I have ever given myself is the courage to speak up."

The court heard that Owens' abuse included repeated sexual assaults over a period of four years, culminating in an attempted rape. He further intimidated the victim into silence, preventing her from disclosing the abuse for years. It wasn't until she became a mother herself that she felt strong enough to report him.

Owens was convicted of seven counts of indecent assault of a child and one count of attempted rape of a child. He has two previous convictions for unrelated offenses: a public order matter and driving with excess alcohol.