A MAN who raped a 13-year-old schoolgirl has been jailed for 12 years.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Mark Leyland, the former landlord of the Hulton Arms pub, Over Hulton, encouraged the girl to watch porn films with him and gave her alcopops.

Then, shortly after her 13th birthday, when Leyland was living at Seddon Lane, Prestolee, he raped her.

“He told her every girl did it,” said Charlotte Crangle, prosecuting, who added that Leyland stated to the girl that she should lose her virginity to him so she would be prepared for later life.

“She asked him to stop because it was extremely painful,” said Miss Crangle, but Leyland ignored her protests.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson heard that Leyland had sex with the girl on multiple occasions and made her perform sex acts on him.

The abuse came to light when the girl, now in her early 20s, revealed it to her boyfriend and sought help from her doctor for low mood.

“She had never discussed what happened and he tried to put it out of her mind,” said Miss Crangle, who added that the girl is now having counselling and has feelings of guilt and embarrassment about what happened.

Leyland was arrested and admitted to police that he had had sex with the girl when she was aged 13.

“He said he was remorseful and knew it was wrong at the time,” said Miss Crangle.

Leyland, aged 51 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to rape and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

Mark Friend, defending, stressed that Leyland had been candid in admitting what he did to the girl.

Leyland displayed no emotion in the dock as Judge Clayson sentenced him to 12 years in prison.

“This was an extremely grave offence and it went on for a long period of time,” he told Leyland.

Leyland was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, is banned from working with children and vulnerable adults and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.