Hampshire former soldier jailed for raping teenage girl

Andrew Tucker, 38, threatened and bullied the girl - who bravely filmed the abuse to prove to others what he had done.

She revealed the abuse to her family despite Tucker threatening her if she did so.

Prosecutor Alexandra Bull said Tucker tried to deny the offences despite the video.

At one point he claimed she had manipulated the video and artificially generated his voice to frame him. 

After being arrested in 2023, Tucker denied the offences but went on to admit three rapes, two sexual assaults, and three charges of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent - and one attempted rape.

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Southampton Crown Court

In a statement read out in court, the victim's father said his sleep had been disturbed due to the "enormous impact" the incidents had. 

He added: "I have been feeling depressed and much more emotional than normal. Life will never be the same."

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Mitigating, Trever Siddle said his client had "shown remorse for his behaviour", adding that he had problems earlier in his life and had to leave the army due to his mental health.

He said he has since been diagnosed with ADHD and has no previous convictions.

But Judge Christopher Parker KC said Tucker had "bullied" his victim into being sexually abused and had "ignored all of her protests".

"Severe psychological harm has been caused to this young girl. Probably even now she doesn’t understand what you have done."

Referencing the diagnosis of ADHD, the judge added: "That is not an excuse for offending like that.

"Many people have that disorder and don’t behave as you do or did."

Tucker, of Shaw Road, West End was jailed for 15 years with an eight-year extended licence period.

Judge Parker also made him subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and issued a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim indefinitely.