THE family of a York paedophile's young victim said they hoped he "rots in hell" after he was given a five-year jail sentence for a string of assaults.

Philip Nicholson, 42, organised a three-year reign of abuse against a 12-year-old girl to satisfy his own lust, Hull Crown Court heard.

Car mechanic Nicholson, formerly of North Moor, Huntington, admitted six offences of indecent assault and three offences of gross indecency.

Jailing him for five years, Recorder Lesley Dickinson said: "These offences were deplorable, reprehensible and disgraceful. Those who hear about them, or read about them, can only shudder at their baseness."

The victim's grandmother said the child is "yet to cry" about her ordeal and has fallen behind with her school studies.

She said: "I hate him. I hope he rots in hell. He has shown no remorse. He was a charmer. I don't care how long he gets, he has ruined my family."

She said the long-term effects on his victim, who was too afraid to tell anyone what happened until March this year when she confided in a friend, were long-term and obvious.

Prosecuting barrister Heather Humpage said although Nicholson was from York, the abuse took place in Bridlington between January, 2001, and March, 2004.

She said the girl was at first nine years old, but knew what he was doing was wrong. She told police she disliked what was happening, but was too afraid to tell because of Nicholson's threats.

Miss Humpage said the girl's mother was close to a breakdown after discovering what had happened to her daughter.

Nicholson's barrister, Richard Woolfall, said: "He accepts that whatever sentence he received will not go far enough for the family of the complainant.

Nicholson was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and banned from working with children.

Updated: 10:42 Tuesday, June 29, 2004