In a personal victim impact statement, the court was told the abuse left a “lasting negative and painful memory” of much of the girl’s childhood.

The statement, read by prosecuting barrister Ian Wright, said the girl began self-harming after the abuse and was “desperate to get rid of the feeling” of Stringer’s hands on her body.

Her family said “no matter how many times we told her she was loved, she wouldn’t believe us”.

The court heard she also had suicidal thoughts and was taken to accident and emergency many times, with the family fearing she would take her own life.

The statement added: “She has raised her bar high, she doesn’t trust people, she has no self-esteem and she blames herself.”