Prison governor Barry Cummings jailed for child sex crimes
A prison governor branded as "arrogant" and "overbearing" has been jailed for child sex offences.
Barry Cummings, of Bearpark, Durham, was earlier convicted of three counts of sexually touching a girl under 13.
He subsequently lost his job as a wing governor at the all-female Low Newton Prison in Durham.
As Cummings was jailed for four years at Durham Crown Court, the hearing was told he still featured in his victim's dreams as an "ogre".
The assaults took place some years ago and a police investigation began after the girl eventually told her mother what had happened.
Divorced Cummings has always denied the charges.
Judge Christopher Prince said: "Throughout you have continued to deny your guilt for these offences in the face of the overwhelming evidence that was presented at trial.
"You have struck me as being a strikingly arrogant, overbearing man with a very forceful personality.
"But the jury saw through your lies in finding you guilty."
He paid tribute to the girl who had "proved herself to be courageous."
The girl's mother said in a victim impact statement that Cummings still featured in the child's dreams as an "ogre".
The girl wrote to the judge after Cummings was remanded in custody last month to say: "I know he is in prison but I still don't feel safe.
"I hope he goes to prison and doesn't do it to anyone else."
Cummings was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order indefinitely.