A PERVERT who forced his young victim to write out sexual promises before subjecting her to horrific abuse has been jailed for six years.

Computer engineer Neil Anthony Pimblett, of Merchant's Quay, Blackburn, carried out a catalogue of abuse on the nine-year-old girl over a year, including videoing sex acts he forced her to commit and taking photographs of her.

Pimblett, who was told he had "cast a long shadow" over the girl's childhood, even abused her after taking her on a weekend holiday to Scotland.

Even when the girl pleaded for the abuse to stop, saying "I'm only nine", Pimblett continued and threatened to beat her up if she refused to carry out his sick demands.

In a statement read to the court the girl's mother, who still lives in Blackburn, said the abuse had left her little girl with a short temper and frequent nightmares.

She added: "I was absolutely sickened to find out what he had been doing and I am very frightened of how this might affect my daughter and the rest of the family. Nothing will ever be the same again."

Both the girl and the mother are attending counselling sessions in a bid to get over the ordeal.

As well as videoing sex acts Pimblett used a polaroid camera to take indecent photographs of her and had an image of her on his computer, Preston Crown Court was told.

He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of indecency including six of inciting the girl to commit acts of gross indecency, five of indecent assault, two of taking indecent photographs and one of possessing a computer image.

Sentencing Pimblett, 32, to jail and ordering he be put on the sex offender's register for the rest of his life, Judge Peter Openshaw said he was "a sad and lonely man" who presented an obvious risk to children.

He added: "You repeatedly required this girl to demean herself and even write out promises of what she would do. No-one can know what damage has been done to this little girl but you have cast a shadow over her childhood."

Howard Bradshaw, prosecuting, told the court that the abuse had started soon after the girl's eighth birthday and continued for almost a year.

The abuse was only revealed when a relative of the girl went to Pimblett's house and found indecent photographs. Police recovered about 40 indecent photographs, computer discs and the video of the sex acts from Pimblett's home.

Judge Openshaw ordered that all six years of the sentence should be served in custody with a further four years on licence so that his behaviour outside prison could be monitored.

After the case Det Insp Mark Gray of Blackburn CID said: "The victim and her mother have been paramount in police thoughts and we have maintained close contact with them throughout the investigation. I would like to praise them for their conduct and their dignity.

"The heavy custodial sentence imposed is a clear indication as to the serious nature of this case. I must congratulated the investigating officers, Det Sgt Paul Withers and Det Con Donna Shaw, who maintained the highest professional standards throughout what was a particularly traumatic investigation.