A PAEDOPHILE jailed for 20 years for repeatedly raping a young girl was caught after she saw an NSPCC sex education talk at her school.

Andrew Flecknell’s victim told her mother of his “hideous” abuse following the showing of the children’s charity PANTS programme.

The 38-year-old defendant from the Bedwas area of Caerphilly was condemned by Judge Lucy Crowther who told him: “This was a campaign of rape.”

Flecknell sexually assaulted the girl “more times than she can remember”.

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Clare Wilks, prosecuting, said that the child’s mother made a victim impact statement on her behalf which she read at Cardiff Crown Court.

It stated: “This has had a massive impact on her.

“I still don’t feel as if this is real, it’s heart-breaking. This is hideous.

“She amazes me with her bravery and resilience.”

The victim was described as a “fun, caring and smart child” who could now become “upset for no reason”.

Flecknell admitted four counts of rape and three of sexual assault.

Kevin Seal representing Flecknell said: “His best mitigation is his guilty pleas and he also has no previous convictions.

“He has suffered from anxiety and depression.

“The defendant has deficiencies in his thinking.

“He knows he’s going to receive a lengthy custodial sentence and that he deserves that.”

Judge Crowther told Flecknell: “It was as a result of the PANTS class that she told her mum of what you had done.

“She told her you had put your private parts into her.

“The victim said this had happened more times than she can remember.

“It is too early to say what the future holds for her.”

The judge added: “You initially denied that you had no sexual interest in children.

“That’s nonsense because you clearly do.

“You are a paedophile and you are sexually interested in children.

“You are a dangerous offender and you don’t seem to realise what you have done.”

Flecknell will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Carl Harris, assistant director at NSPCC Cymru, said: “This is an incredibly distressing case.

"Child sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on victims but because this young girl had the confidence to speak out, Flecknell no longer poses a danger to her or any other child.

“It is so important that she receives any support she needs to recover from the effect of the abuse she has suffered. 

“This case highlights why it is so important that children understand about abuse in an age-appropriate way, so they are able to speak to a trusted and safe adult about anything they are worried about, in the knowledge that they will be protected.

“The NSPCC Talk PANTS resources help children to understand their body belongs to them, they have a right to say no and that if they need to speak out about something, someone will listen.”

Children with any concern can contact Childline by calling 0800 1111 or visiting www.childline.org.uk.

Adults worries about a child’s welfare or safety can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000.