The victim of a seven-year campaign of sexual abuse in the 1960s has at last won justice with her abuser being jailed for two decades.

The woman - who has not been named - was the victim of "appalling" abuse when she was a young child with "violence used against her when she didn't comply".

Police said the system let her down as she reported the abuse in the 1980s to police in a different area, with her attacker questioned for several hours but eventually let go on the basis the offences had not happened recently enough to prosecute.

After hearing of another case impacting someone she knew, the victim came forward again more recently to Warwickshire Police which was able to pursue a conviction.

Her abuser, 75-year-old John Erskine of Coventry, was charged with seven counts of raping a female child under the age of 13.

In interview Erskine switched between minimising what he did, lying about his offending or making excuses.

At Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, April 24, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a jury found him guilty on all seven counts.

Detective Sergeant Dugmore, who led the investigation, said: "I want to commend the victim for her courage in coming forward. She demonstrated unwavering strength throughout.

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"The justice system failed her in the 1980s and we know it will have taken yet more bravery to make that report again, all these years later.

"Nothing will take away the pain that Erskine caused. But she is an extraordinary woman and I hope this sentence goes some way to bringing her the peace she deserves.

"She has asked me to express her hope that others who have survived abuse see this story and feel able to come forward and let us help them to get justice."