An “evil” rapist who attacked a girl at least twice a week for six months, and was only caught when his young victim miscarried his baby, has been jailed.


Leonard Wallace, 49, of the Sackville estate, Streatham, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for raping the girl over a sustained period – and police believe there may be more victims.


At Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, July 19, Wallace was sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to sexually assaulting the girl when she was under-13 and then raping her once she turned 13.


He was also given a sexual prevention order that will be enforced for the rest of his life. He will not be allowed to be in the company of girls under the age of 18 unless accompanied by an adult.


Wallace, dressed in jeans, a denim jacket and a jumper, stood emotionless in the dock as he learned his fate, while the victim’s family and friends applauded as he was taken away.


His shocking actions only came to light when the young victim had a miscarriage of his baby, as he never used protection, the court was told.


Mr William Eaglestone, prosecuting, said Wallace, 49, would rape the girl at least twice a week and then gave her money to keep her co-operative.


If she resisted his advances he would pull her hair and call her names, he said.
 

Mr Eaglestone also read to the court extracts from a diary the victim wrote after her ordeal.
 

In it she wrote: “My life is hell. I want to die. My life is hell hell, people don’t get me. My life is a **** up, I want to die.”


Judge Roger Chapple, said the victim and her family would be traumatised for a long time by Wallace’s actions.


He said: “I look at what you have done, you have robbed her of her innocence and childhood. You have turned her young world upside down.
“You have put her through a ghastly experience and it must have been truly terrifying for her and for her family.


“She has been deeply traumatised by what has happened and her and her family will have emotional scars.
 

“You pay her money it seems when you had sex to keep her co-operating with your evil actions.
 

“You were in a position of trust and what you did was the most dreadful abuse of that trust.”

After the hearing, one of the victim’s family said the sentence was too short and the family was still struggling to move on with their lives.
 

They said: “Everyone is torn to pieces in so many different ways. The family had to move from the house where they lived for years.”
 

They aded the victim remained vulnerable. They said: “He threatened that if he ever went to prison then he would find her and kill her.”

Detective Constable Kevin Snow, from Lambeth police’s child abuse investigation command, said: “This was a particularly distressing case for both the victim and her family.

"The victim underwent hospital treatment following the abuse and demonstrated remarkable strength and courage throughout what was a very difficult investigation.”
 

Police believe Wallace may have other victims. Anyone with information should call police on 020 7232 6397.