A CHILD abuser who drove a young York girl to contemplate suicide was today starting four years in jail.

Barry Milburn, 61, was also one of the first in the country to be banned from working with youngsters indefinitely, under a new child protection law.

He sexually assaulted the schoolgirl for four to five years, starting when she was eight, York Crown Court heard. Jailing Milburn for four years and putting him on the sex offenders' register for life, Judge Paul Hoffman told him: "You inflicted heavy emotional damage upon her and to some extent you recognise this."

Milburn, of Langbar Garth, Whinmoor, Leeds, pleaded guilty to five specimen charges each of indecent assault and gross indecency, committed when he lived in York in the 1980s.

Mr Williams said the girl had harmed herself and from time to time considered killing herself because of what her attacker had done to her.

The abuse began with less serious sexual attacks and continued, at times weekly, over about five years.

When the girl was an adult, she confronted her abuser, who told her: "You should have said no."

For Milburn, Diane Campbell said the abuse had lasted for four years. He stopped after the most serious incident because he suddenly realised what he was doing. Since then he had been living with his actions.

He had told his family and friends what he had done.

His friends found it difficult to believe it, but his son was so appalled he had cut all ties with his father, saying: "As far as I am concerned, my father no longer exists; he is dead."

Eight years ago, Milburn himself attempted suicide. He was currently in the process of declaring himself bankrupt.

Updated: 10:14 Saturday, June 16, 2001