Sex offender jailed for 'calculated' abuse of girl

A sex offender has been jailed for the "calculated" and "sustained" abuse of a vulnerable young girl over a number of years.

James Groves, 51, of Little Stoke, South Gloucestershire, was sentenced to 20 years and six months for 19 separate sexual offences at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Groves, who also goes by the name of April, was found guilty by a jury of the non-recent offences, including nine counts of rape, at the same court on 5 June.

The victim, who was commended by police for her "exceptional bravery", told the court: "I have lost my childhood because of what they did, and I will never get it back."

The offences were reported after Groves was arrested for inappropriate communication with a child.

The victim then revealed she had been sexually abused and raped by Groves over a number of years, which led to Groves being charged on 18 October 2025.

In a statement read out in court, the victim said: "I felt that because Groves groomed me, I did not realise how serious what was going on was."

She said she didn't contact the police because of the relationship Groves had built with her.

"People have said to me that I am not the bright, bubbly girl I once was, and I am just a shell of my former self," she said.

"I don't remember chunks of my childhood because of what Groves did, and this is because of the trauma I have been through," she added.

Det Con Ben Perrett, from Avon and Somerset Police's criminal investigations department, said: "This has been an extremely distressing case involving the sustained abuse of a vulnerable young girl, who was targeted and manipulated by the offender over several years.

"Groves' actions demonstrate a calculated pattern of grooming designed to gain trust and exert control.

"I would like to commend the victim for her exceptional bravery in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

He added that her courage had been "instrumental in securing this conviction and preventing further harm".

Alongside the prison sentence, Groves will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for an indefinite period.

• If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.