A golf instructor who groomed a teenage girl and raped her has been given a 21-year extended sentence.
George Scott, 39, denied 11 sex offences including rape but was convicted by a jury at Brighton Crown Court at the end of an eight-day trial in April.
The trial judge, Recorder Patricia Hitchcock, sentenced Scott to 19 years in prison and two years on extended licence in a hearing at Brighton Crown Court on Friday 31 July.
Recorder Hitchcock told Scott that he would serve at least two-thirds of the 19 years in prison before he could be considered for release and any remaining time plus two more years on licence.
Scott, of Nevill Close, Beacon Road, Crowborough, was convicted of committing a series of offences over a two-year period starting in 2017.
The victim, whose identity is protected by law, told the court: “I continue to fight everyday against the memories I wish I could forget.
“This has had a devastating and lifelong impact. I have lived with the consequences with flashbacks and intrusive memories. I often felt blamed and shamed for something that was never my fault.”
After the case, Detective Inspector Mors Lambert said: “I commend the courage of the victim for coming forward and reporting her experience to Sussex Police in this highly distressing case.
“It is clear that Scott groomed the victim and abused her in the most appalling way. She should have been able to trust him in his role but he abused that trust by committing sexual offences over a two-year period.
“This was a complex investigation and we take reports of rape and serious sexual assaults extremely seriously. We were determined to get justice for the victim in this case.
“Scott is now serving a significant custodial sentence which reflects the severity of his offences as well as the profound impact it has had upon the victim.
“I would continue to encourage all victims of sexual offences to report their experiences to the police.”
Recorder Hitchcock imposed a sexual harm prevention order for 25 years which will restrict Scott’s unsupervised contact with children and access to computers or mobile phones.
He was put on the sex offenders register indefinitely and the court also imposed a restraining order forbidding him from contacting the victim indefinitely.
