Father jailed for raping daughter

A man who raped his daughter more than 30 years ago was jailed for 11 years.

Marie Byfield, from Rushden, Northamptonshire - who waived her right to anonymity - was abused as a child, Northampton Crown Court heard.

Michael Street, 60, from Somersham, Huntingdon, was earlier convicted of rape, indecency with a child and indecent assault.

He had denied the offences, but Judge Thomas Corrie told him: "You behaved in a way no father should."

Mrs Byfield, who is now 40, waived her right to remain unidentified following her father's conviction on 3 April.

Abused trust

Prosecutor Alisdair Smith told the court that Street regularly made his daughter touch him indecently when she was aged eight or nine.

On a number of other occasions he touched her breasts when she was aged about 13.

John Lloyd-Jones, defending, said Street denied the offences and his wife was standing by him.

Judge Thomas Corrie told him: "It goes without saying you abused her trust.

"You behaved in a way no father should. She is undoubtedly damaged and neurotic."

Mrs Byfield said she had never felt able to tell anyone about the sexual abuse she was suffering.

She said: "When I was younger I always thought about telling a friend's mum, but I never had the confidence because I did not think I would be believed."