LLANFACHRETH man who launched what a judge described as a campaign of rape against a schoolgirl has been jailed for 20 years.

Defendant John Emery, 48, of Caen y Coed, denied 19 charges including indecent assault, the rape of a child, and sexual assault against the girl and two other complainants.

But he was unanimously convicted by a jury of nine women and three men at Mold Crown Court.

Emery, who was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life, shook his head in disbelief as he was led to the cells.

Loud crying could be heard coming from the public gallery.

Judge Parry thanked the jury for their work and told them that they could not pick and choose the cases that they were given.

“It was a dreadful case,” he said.

Sentencing Emery, Judge Parry said that he had been convicted of “unimaginable” sexual offences, particularly against one young victim.

“You conduct towards her was as appalling as it was shocking,” he said.

He repeatedly raped the young victim.

There had been grooming, and the use of alcohol and gifts to try and ingratiate himself.

He had warned her not to tell anyone what was going on and told her she would not be believed.

On one occasion he physically pushed her and threatened to tell lies about her if he was reported.

His offences towards her were “utterly shocking”, the judge said – a campaign of rape.

Emery, he said, was a manipulative man who ignored all recognised boundaries and sexually assaulted two other victims.

There was an element of grooming but the offences against them did not involve penetration.

He had isolated one of his victims and caused her so much fear that she ran from a car in the middle of nowhere in order to seek help.

Judge Parry said that Emery had shown no remorse for his conduct.