The family of a girl who was abused by a farmer has said their life became a “living hell”.

Alex Gould left his victim unable to sit school exams and with low confidence and self-esteem after he abused her.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the now-27-year-old farmer had groomed the girl, showed her pornographic images and eventually had sex with her.

She was infected with a sexually transmitted disease as a result and her life was ‘shattered’ according to judge Brian Forster KC.

Gould, of Broadlands Road, Southampton was 25 at the time he abused the teenager.

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Speaking after he was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday, the victim’s family said “no length of time in prison will ever compensate” for what he did.

“Going forward the true impact is immeasurable. It has impacted her (the victim’s) self-esteem and her confidence," they said.

“She is not the girl she used to be.

“Obviously it put an enormous strain on the family. It has been a living hell. It has impacted a lot of aspects of our life.”

They added however that they hope Gould “gets the help that he desperately needs to not offend in future”.

The court heard how Gould pleaded guilty to four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, having not previously offended.

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Mitigating, Richard Martin said there is a suggestion he is autistic and was “unable to realise the harm that he was clearly causing”.

He added: “He is somebody that has clearly struggled. This was not a defendant who went out looking for a young teenage girl to take advantage of.

“He found himself in a position and his feeling was to allow it to continue.

“This was somebody who was simply too immature.

“This relatively young man does know that he has done wrong and has harmed somebody and he is determined to put it behind him.”

But Judge Brian Forster said he had “set out to pursue a relationship with this young girl” and had “pushed the boundaries” at every step.

He said: “You were grooming her towards your end. You set the pace you knew what you wanted and you gained what you wanted.

“She will never be able to forget this period that has been a nightmare in her life.”

Gould was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirements for life.

He is also the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting his victim.