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A man who subjected a young girl to "horrifying" and "systematic" sexual abuse has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Cheshire Police said Michael Brown, 32, carried out the abuse from 2006 to 2008 when the girl was aged four.

Brown, of Buckingham Avenue, Great Boughton, Chester was convicted of 12 sexual offences against a child on 30 October at Chester Crown Court.

He was sentenced on Friday at the same court, police said.

His repeated abuse included attempted rape, sexual touching and inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity.

Brown's crimes were reported to police in December 2021 and he was charged with 13 offences.

He denied all charges but was only cleared of one - taking indecent images of a child.

'Bravery and determination'

Brown however was convicted on multiple counts of sexual assault on a child, taking indecent images, incitement to sexual activity, sexual penetration and attempted rape.

Det Con Emma Flanagan praised the "bravery and determination" of the girl throughout the investigation.

She said Brown's abuse was "truly horrifying" and he "systematically abused her over a number of years in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification".

The officer added: "Not only that, but he also made his victim endure a trial and recount what he had done to her, which was extremely distressing.

"But thanks to her courage, he is now facing the consequences of his actions."

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