A TRANSGENDER fiend has been jailed for grooming and raping a young girl in a “sustained” campaign of abuse.

James Groves, who also goes by the name of April, repeatedly attacked the victim over a number of years.

The 51-year-old has now been jailed for 20 years and six months after being convicted of 19 sex offences – including nine counts of rape.

Bristol Crown Court heard the sickening crimes came to light when Groves was arrested for inappropriate communication with a child.

The brave girl told she had been sexually abused and raped by Groves over a number of years.

In a victim impact statement, she said: “I have lost my childhood because of what they did, and I will never get it back.”

The girl continued: “I felt that because Groves groomed me, I did not realise how serious what was going on was.”

She revealed she did not initially contact police because of the “relationship” Groves had built with her.

The victim added: “People have said to me that I am not the bright, bubbly girl I once was, and I am just a shell of my former self.

“I don’t remember chunks of my childhood because of what Groves did, and this is because of the trauma I have been through.”

As well as a jail term, Groves will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for an indefinite period.

DC Ben Perrett, from our Criminal Investigations Department (CID), said: “This has been an extremely distressing case involving the sustained abuse of a vulnerable young girl, who was targeted and manipulated by the offender over several years.

“Groves’ actions demonstrate a calculated pattern of grooming designed to gain trust and exert control. I would like to commend the victim for her exceptional bravery in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

“Her courage has been instrumental in securing this conviction and preventing further harm. I hope this result sends a clear message that we take offences of this nature extremely seriously.

“We will work tirelessly to protect vulnerable individuals and bring those responsible to justice.”