A CHILD sex fiend convicted of 'grooming' a girl for sex has been jailed for nine years.

Control freak Graham Walsh, 34, of Melita Street, Darwen was sentenced at Preston Crown Court today after being being found guilty of one count of rape and eight of indecent assault.

The part-time pub worker who formerly worked as a caretaker at St Peter's CE School, was also given three years extension when he will be supervised and could be called back into custody if he re-offends.

During a week long trial the jury had been told how Walsh groomed the girl victim for sex, persistently and systematically abusing her over about two years, between March 2000 and January 2003. She was not a pupil at the school.

Judge Pamela Badley, said she had taken into account the divorced father-of-one's "previous good character" in sentencing.

She also said she had taken into account the degree of harm to his victim, the risk of re-offending, and the need to deter others from a repeating of similar offences.

She said: "The sentence reflects the gravity of the grooming process which went on before the rape with a series of assaults."

In defence Julie Taylor said Walsh had always been a hard-working man, looking after his family with no previous convictions.

Walsh's ex-wife, Sharon Whitehead, of Darwen said after the sentencing: "I am delighted, really pleased, it couldn't be better. This means he will be out of the public where he can no longer cause anyone any harm."

Walsh's parents refused to comment.