A KESWICK farmer who cynically groomed and then sexually abused two schoolgirls­— repeatedly raping one of them ­— has been jailed for 20 years.

Raymond Harrison, 69, denied the allegations, but was convicted after a trial at Carlisle Crown Court. The case was was brought after one of his traumatised victims ­— haunted by what happened ­— reported it years later.

Harrison had denied 12 charges: eight involving the repeated rape, indecent assaults and acts of indecency with one girl; and four relating to indecent assaults on the second girl. He was convicted on all counts.

The court heard how Harrison had groomed the girls, showering them with cigarettes and sweets before abusing them. He told the girl he raped that her father would end up in jail if he ever found out about the sexual abuse because he ­— Harrison ­— would be killed by him.

“I didn’t really understand what he was doing,” said the victim, now an adult. “I didn’t know what was happening. He said nobody was to know because it had to be our secret.

“Basically, he frightened me into not saying anything because I loved my dad very much and I didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.”

As she grew older, she realised what Harrison did was wrong. “I’ve spent my adult life trying to forget about it, but I can’t,” she said.

The two victims were both under 13 when Harrison abused them, the court heard. “The impact of that offending on the victims is still very much present,” said the barrister.

In statements, the women spoke of the abuse’s devastating impact. The woman raped by Harrison branded him a “pathetic”. She said: “He has robbed me of my childhood and ruined my adult life in so many ways...I am serving a continuous life sentence.” The second woman said: “Being the victim of childhood abuse creates an injury that can‘t be mended or forgotten about. In addition it creates an unaccountable guilt and feeling of deep shame.”

Harrison, who lives off Penrith Road, Keswick, was was in his late twenties and early thirties when he abused the girls.

He has maintained his innocence.

But the sentencing judge, Recorder Ciaran Rankin, told him: “It is quite clear on the evidence you groomed each of these girls independently and went on to sexually assault them in the way the jury determined that you did.”

Harrison must sign the sex offenders’ register for life, and follow the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order. The court heard today an appeal against Harrison’s conviction is pending.

After Harrison was jailed, Detective Constable Mark Cox said the investigation was one of the most difficult of his 16 years in the job.

He added:“Both victims have been incredibly brave and courageous in reporting what happened to them and providing evidence throughout a lengthy investigation.”