A MAN who raped a girl in his Northfield home three decades ago has been jailed to 17 years in prison.
The victim, who is now in her 40s, only found the courage to tell the police what happened two years ago.
Michael Collins, 64, raped the child twice while his wife and newborn baby slept in another room at their home.
He then threatened the girl, telling her he owned a gun and that if she told anyone what he had done, she would be taken into care.
Det Con Louise Ford, from West Midlands Police’s Public Protection Central Complex Team, said: “This woman has spent years struggling to cope with what happened to her as a child, but finally found the confidence to report it to us.
“The length of time that has elapsed since she was raped made no difference to how seriously we treated her report. It was fully investigated, with the result that Collins is now finally having to face up to the consequences of inflicting terrible suffering on an innocent child.
“I hope this case will give other victims confidence to come forward and report abuse to us, knowing that we will take them seriously and thoroughly investigate their allegations.”
Michael Collins, of Springthorpe Green in Erdington, was found guilty of two counts of rape at Birmingham Crown Court this morning (Tuesday 30 April) and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
He has also been placed on the Sex Offender Register for life.
