A CHILD rapist was caught after his victim confided in an internet friend who persuaded her to reveal her ordeal to a teacher.

At Bolton Crown Court, 31-year-old Adam Watts was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to two counts of raping a child under the age of 13 and two further charges of sexual activity with a child.

Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting, told how Watts had groomed the girl over a period of time before sexually abusing and raping her.

“It was always done with the warning that she should keep it a secret and not tell her mother,” said Miss Thomson.

She added that the child only realised what was happening was wrong due to sex education lessons at school.

Miss Thomson said the girl suffered from nightmares but is now “relieved” that Watts has admitted what he did to her.

Police arrested Watts, of no fixed address, but Miss Thomson said he initially attempted to minimise the offending by claiming only sexual touching had taken place and it was consensual.

Iain Simkin, defending, stressed that Watts, a man of previous good character, had ultimately pleaded guilty and spared his victim having to give evidence in a trial.

“These are difficult cases for defendants to come to terms with,” he added.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Davies told Watts: “[The victim] is relieved you have admitted what you have done, but these offences have profound impacts.”

He also stressed he has “considerable concern” about Watts' views, revealed in a psychologist’s report, that a child’s age does not matter so long as there is consent.

In addition to the jail term Watts will be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, he is barred from working with children and vulnerable adults and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made banning him from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16.