2006: MAN JAILED INDEFINITELY FOR RAPING GIRL
A sex offender who repeatedly raped a 12-year-old girl was today jailed indefinitely after a court heard she had been “robbed of her childhood”.Clive Taplin, 47, formerly of Gamecock Close, Norwich, and now of Avenue Road, Wymondham, admitted three charges of raping a girl under the age of 13 and three of sexual activity with the same girl.
Passing sentence, Judge Daniel Worsley told him: “There is little more evil a man can do to an innocent child.” The offences came to light in October last year when the girl broke down in tears and told her mother who then contacted the police.
When interviewed, the girl said she had told Taplin she was too young after the first time they had sex but he returned the next day.
She added that sex took place on the sofa and in the shower and he had given her love bites before cajoling her to do the same to him.
Taplin told her: “It is our little secret.” The offences were sample counts and court heard it happened on many more occasions.
A doctor who examined the girl said she had been having sex for some time.
Police found Taplin's DNA on one of the girl's skirts but when he was interviewed he gave a “no comment” interview.
A victim impact statement said the girl had been deeply affected by the abuse and has since expressed feelings of anger and hurt.
Guy Ayers, defending, said that Taplin had to be accompanied by an appropriate adult throughout his interview as he was not “academically gifted”.
He had no relevant previous convictions and had expressed remorse.
Taplin was placed on the sex offenders for life and told him he would serve a minimum of four years in jail, after which it will be up to the probation service to judge was threat he poses to the public.
Upon his release he will be on licence for at least 10 years.
Judge Worsley said: “These offences are not just six offences.
You did it many times and these are just sample offences reported over a period of a year.
The long-term affect on the girl, particularly the emotional one on this innocent child, is too shocking for words.
“You repeatedly did it, you are a danger to the public and there is a real risk to other potential victims of physical and psychological harm from you.”
