Caretaker jailed for sex offences against Brighton girl
Ian Ellingford committed the offences between 11 and 13 years ago
A caretaker at a Brighton school, who sexually abused a vulnerable girl for more than three years, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Ian Ellingford, 51, now of Ripe Lane, Firle, East Sussex, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court, having been convicted of seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault against the girl.
The victim was a teenager at the time of the offending between 11 and 13 years ago.
Detective Constable Suzy MacLintock said; "The girl was particularly vulnerable when Ellingford encountered her at the school which she was about to leave, but he continued to in effect groom her even after she had moved schools. He committed a series of sexual offences against her, knowing that she was at the time not in a position to readily resist him, subjected her to a series of assaults.
"Eventually she became sufficiently confident to disclose what had happened to her."