A MAN who raped and sexually abused a young child after a drink and drugs binge has been jailed.

Paedophile Neale Holmes had denied any wrong-doing and told police his child victim 'may have had a bad dream.'

At his sentencing hearing his victim read out an emotional statement in which she said she will 'never be the same again' after the abuse.

READ ALSO: Oxford Covid vaccine 'safe and effective', study shows.

The 50-year-old of Wigod Way, Wallingford, had denied one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court found him guilty of all counts and he was sentenced at the same court yesterday.

During the case jurors saw a recorded interview that the victim gave to police about the incident.

In that interview she said Holmes sexually abused her a number of times on a single night.

She said that he first raped her orally before taking her to another room.

There, she said he sexually assaulted her by touching and also made her perform a sex act on him.

Asked how she was feeling at the time she told police: "I was not really thinking.

"I just remember feeling, like, just confused and I didn't really know what to do. Scared."

She went on to say that her abuser had been drinking that night and described him as 'a bit tipsy' and slurring his words.

READ ALSO: Food hygiene results for pubs and restaurants in Oxfordshire.

Prosecutors had said that said Holmes claimed the child 'may have had a bad dream' and it was said that he was 'plastered' that night having consumed two litres of vodka and taken drugs.

At the sentencing hearing, the child victim bravely stood up to her abuser and told the court how her ordeal had affected her.

She said: "I will never be the same again, it has affected everything about me and my life.

"I have to live with the abuse every single day of my life.

"It happened over one night but it has been happening to me every day since."

She said she would relive the abuse with flashbacks and nightmares.

She added: "For me there is no tomorrow, there is just that day when he abused me."

In mitigation it was said that the incident had been a 'one-off' and was 'relatively short lived.'

The court also heard that Holmes had been 'under the influence of drink and drugs' that night, having drunk an 'excessive amount of alcohol' as well as taking anti-depressants and cannabis.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb called the abuse 'reprehensible.'

Holmes was jailed for a total of 13 years and will be subject to an extended period of licence for one year upon his release.

He must also sign the sex offenders register and obey a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely.

Holmes was also ordered to pay a statutory victim surcharge.