A 64-year-old Trowbridge man who sexually abused three young girls repeatedly, leaving them traumatised, has been jailed for 17 years.

Stephen Miller molested the children when they were aged between five and 10.

During his sentencing hearing at Swindon Crown Court one of his victims told about the effect his crimes had had on her.

Miller, who sat with his head bowed as she read her victim impact statement, had admitted some of the abuse, but denied the more serious allegations, only to be convicted of all 17 charges by a jury at Swindon Crown Court last year.

All of the offences took place between 2000 and 2007.

Before the girl read the lengthy statement Miller’s barrister Michael Butt asked for her to not read it aloud.

He said: “I ask what is to be gained by her reading it,” saying the judge could read it himself.

Rejecting his request, Judge Tim Mousley QC replied: “I can see no basis for her not to follow the course that she wishes to follow.”

The victim, now a teenager, said in the statement that she had contemplated suicide and had many other issues because of the abuse which started at a young age.

“It made me feel completely alone and helpless. I was scared and am still scared today. I was immorally sexualised at a very young age,” she said.

“The first time I said the words ‘I have been sexually abused’ I broke down in to a million pieces.

“I try not to define myself by my sexual abuse, but it affects everything I do, everything I think.”

Statements by two other girls also told how they had suffered as a result of the abuse.

The judge said: “One can only hope in the passage of time things [the abused’s lives] will improve.”