Child rapist babysitter jailed for 14 years as jury reduced to tears

A CHILD rapist has been jailed for 14 years after being found guilty by a jury who were reduced to tears by evidence heard during the five-day trial.

Daniel Bottger attacked the young girl while babysitting her, Hull Crown Court heard.

During a recorded interview, shown to the jury, the victim told a specially trained police officer: "I have been brave at hospital. They gave me medicine."

The jury took three and a half hours to find Bottger, 24, unanimously guilty of two counts of rape on a child aged under 13.

Clutching a Disney Princess Belle doll, the child played on the sofa in the police interview suite as she relived her ordeal.

She revealed to the interviewer how she had immediately told her mother she had been hurt when she came to collect her.

Bottger, from Hull, but of no fixed address, had only been alone with the girl for two and a half hours, the court heard.

Prosecutor Richard Woolfall said: "It hurt her and upset her and left her with some injuries.

"She was unable to keep what had happened to herself and told her mother. She later told medical staff and then went on to tell the police."

Bottger had insisted nothing sexual had happened.

But Mr Woolfall suggested to the jury that it was highly unlikely the young girl had made up such detailed allegations, and that it was Bottger not telling the truth.

"Maybe she was engaging in fantasy when she said it, had she got the wrong end of the stick? Mr Woolfall said.

"Is she misunderstanding something quite innocent? The defendant's case was nothing sexual ever happened. There is a clear conflict with the evidence."

Judge Mark Bury told Bottger he had been convicted of two "grave" offences.

Bottger shouted obscenities at the victim's family, who were sat in the public gallery.

Judge Bury said the evidence against him was "compelling".

He said: "Both the offences were committed at the same time when you were supervising her.

"She made an immediate complaint. The same day, she complained to her mother that you had hurt her.

"There was scientific evidence and, at the time, your behaviour was suspicious. You were in a position of trust and you abused her in this grotesque way.

"There is no evidence of you behaving inappropriately to any other children in the past and there is no apparent reason why you behaved like this on this occasion.

"I know you have a drug habit and that may have had some bearing on your behaviour at the time of this offence.

"She has made a complete physical recovery and, hopefully, she will not suffer from this."

Judge Bury said Bottger will be referred to the safeguarding authorities and will never be allowed to work with children.

Bottger has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life.