“HE ruined my life,” said a sexual assault victim as her childhood attacker is jailed for seven years.

Edward Price, 78, was found guilty after a trial at Reading Crown Court for the offences which are said to have occurred between 1991 and 1992 in Reading.

A jury found him guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16.

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Prince, of Millwey Avenue in Axminster, Devon, was acquitted of the other two charges which were of indecent assault on a girl under 14.

At the same court on Wednesday (September 6), he was jailed by Judge Emma Nott for seven years.

A victim impact statement was read out in court from the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stating her life has been ‘ruined’ by the assaults.

She wrote: “I now know the Edward I knew then was not the Edward I know now. I became isolated and alone, looking for somebody who cared.

“He ruined my life. Nobody reached out to me or helped me. I have still not had a successful relationship, I don’t have the confidence to meet new people – I have a distrust in men in general.

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“At times, I thought the only option was to end it [life]. But I wasn’t going to let Edward get the better of me.

“I knew there was more to life than this. However, there are still dark days. Due to Edward, I have a deep-seated anger inside me.

“He took my childhood away from me and psychologically I will never be the same again.”

During the statement being read, Price shook his head and muttered under his breath.

Reprimanding him, Judge Nott said: “Have some respect for her. She’s carried herself with dignity and that victim impact statement reflects very powerfully what you did to her and how you ruined her childhood and how, through remarkable resilience, she has been able to put her life back together.”

Price, who would have been in his late 40s at the time, opted not to give evidence during the trial which concluded in July.

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The court heard he has no previous convictions. His first wife and sister provided references for him in court, stating he is a ‘perfect gentleman’.

He shouted out and excused the woman of being a liar during the proceedings.