A PENSIONER has been given an extended sentence of 20 years in prison, with a further year on licence, after being found guilty of historical rape of a child in the 1980s.

Barry Lake, aged 70, from Pembroke Dock, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court today, October 22, having been found guilty of 10 counts of rape of a child and two charges of gross indecency with a child last month.

In an impact statement read out to the court at the sentencing on Friday, October 22, Lake's victim spoke about the effects of the abuse:

"I feel like a freak even though I know it wasn't my fault and I did nothing wrong," she said.

"I have felt ashamed all my life. It has felt like a dirty heavy secret. I have felt that if people knew the truth about me, they wouldn't want to know me…

"I used to feel on edge all the time, my stomach would be cramping in knots and I lived with a feeling of great shame and disgust…I thought it was my fault for not being strong enough to stop him.

"I am aware that I have been carrying a very heavy weight all my life. It hasn't gone away."

Lake's victim said that going through the trial had 'brought it all back to the surface again' but that she did feel relieved that Lake would not be 'around vulnerable women to prey on'.

Lake, now of Newton-le-Willows in St Helens, had denied all 12 charges relating to offences between January 1986 and January 1989.

He was first questioned by Dyfed-Powys Police in April 2020 in what would become an intensive and complex investigation.

Investigating officer DC Claire Lewis said: "Lake denied all charges, putting his victim through the ordeal of a trial.

"As they have done throughout the investigation, they showed great courage and dignity in the face of adversity to help us convict their abuser.

"This was a long and intensive investigation with a lot of work to achieve this outcome today.

"This sentence shows that it doesn't matter how long ago a victim has suffered sexual abuse, we as police are here to listen and take seriously any person who has suffered any form of sexual abuse albeit a day or 35 years after.

"Please do not be scared to come forward, we are here to listen to you.

"Once again, I would like to commend the victim for their bravery for coming forward and achieving this outcome here today."

After serving 20 years in prison Lake will serve another year on licence.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Judge Geraint Walters said the abuse had been 'a campaign of rape over a period of time with a girl under the age of 13 years'.

"What you did to her is frankly unforgivable by anybody's standards," he said. "You took away her childhood and her innocence.

"Those that abuse children in this way leave permanent scars. Nobody recovers from it. Victims learn to live with it. Not living but existing and that's what she has had to do over the years. Not living but existing with it."

He acknowledged there was no evidence that Lake had offended since but said that he had 'shown no remorse whatsoever'.