Cleaner jailed for child rape

The family of the victim say the eight year sentence is too short

A 42-year-old cleaner has been jailed for eight years for raping a 10-year-old girl and videoing the attack.

Stephen Harben admitted raping the girl three times in what was described by the judge as "appalling sexual abuse".

Cambridge Crown Court heard the rapes were uncovered when a relative of the defendant found the videos.

Harben of Ashfield Road, Chesterton in Cambridge admitted the attacks during a police interview.

Harben pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and two of indecent assault at an earlier court hearing.

He was held in custody while psychiatric assessments were carried out.

During the hearing Harben cried and shook in the dock.

"I think eight years is not long enough for him, my daughter has got to live with what has happened for the rest of her life. Victim's father

Judge Jonathan Haworth told the defendant: "You acted quite deliberately and you recorded your abuse on video, indicating forethought.

"You were in a position of trust and the child was young.

"I have to punish you and mark the public abhorrence of this offence."

Following the hearing, the victim's parents said they felt they could never let their little girl out of their sight again.

Her father said while Harben was sentenced to eight years his daughter's pain would never end.

He said: "I think eight years is not long enough for him, my daughter has got to live with what has happened for the rest of her life - he's been given a specific sentence."

Her mother added: "I will never trust anyone again. What happened to my girl has affected her in so many ways."

Harben was placed on the sex offenders register for life.