A paedophile who subjected a young child to over a decade of abuse left his victim feeling what was happening to him was “normal,” police have said.
Lee Smith befriended a relative of the boy in 1999 and, according to officers who worked on the case, would abuse him under the pretence of reading him a bedtime story.
Smith, of Kirkway in Rochdale, was convicted at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court of nine sexual offences, including rape and sexually assaulting a child.
The 46-year-old was jailed for 13 years.
Greater Manchester Police Sgt Kathryn Ross said: “Lee Smith’s sickening exploitation of a child over a period of more than a decade shows the type of heinous person he is, and I am glad he is now behind bars for his crimes.
“His victim’s bravery in opening up and discussing the abuse he endured was truly remarkable, and I would like to thank them for their assistance in ensuring Smith ended up at court.
“More than 25 years after the abuse started, Smith was still attempting to exploit children online – a man who simply doesn’t care for the age of his victims.”
Sgt Ross said Smith “would often make his victim feel that he was obliged to do as he asked”.
The abuse continued for a decade, police said, either while the victim’s mother was out or at Smith’s home.
Smith’s behaviour made the boy “think the abuse was normal”, police said, with the paedophile “systematically exploiting his trust”.
