A Wirral man was jailed for 12 years today for repeatedly raping an eight-year-old girl.

As 56-year-old Daniel Bennett was led to the cells a woman in the public gallery shouted out "rot in hell."

Bennett, of Balls Road, Birkenhead, had pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to ten offences of rape over a two month period.

The victim told her mother last October what had happened and her husband spoke to Bennett, who initially denied the claims but then admitted abusing her.

She said that she had not told of her ordeal as she was scared and felt "horrible about herself" and thought she would be blamed.

When officers quizzed Bennett he admitted what he had done.

Kim Egerton, prosecuting, said a victim impact statement from the child's mother spoke of the devastation caused to the family by his behaviour.

Jailing him and ordering him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, Judge Stephen Clarke said that they were very serious offences and the sentence would have been longer but for his plea.

Paul Wood, defending, said that Bennett has no previous convictions and had shown remorse by his guilty plea.

Bennett, whose wife is divorcing him, had written a letter saying he appreciated the significance of what he had done.