Michael Street, 60, was handed the sentence at Northampton Crown Court for rape, indecency with a child, and indecent assault after he was found guilty last month.

He will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

Street remained emotionless throughout the sentencing, apart from mouthing "Stay strong" at his wife in the public gallery.

His daughter, Marie Byfield, from Northamptonshire, waived her anonymity during the trial, in which she described how Street had raped her in a field when she was about seven or eight.

The court heard Street, of Somersham, Huntingdon, had only raped her once, but had made sexual innuendoes, exposed himself to her and asked her to touch him on regular occasions.

He also tried to bribe her to have sex with him and once tried to make her perform a sex act on him.

All the incidents were said to have happened during the period of 1975 to 1982.

The court heard Street had previous convictions for indecent assault and indecent exposure.

Sentencing, his honour Judge Corrie said: "It goes without saying that you abused her trust, you behaved in a way which no father should.

"You had, it is said, and the court accepts, a difficult upbringing with a disciplinarian father.

"You were distressed when a brother of yours died in unpleasant and painful circumstances.

"You married and you had a family and your first child was born when you were still only 19.

"She became the target of your lust in the sense that you were convicted by the jury on the 3rd of April, although you still deny any guilt, of raping her in a field when she was only seven or eight."

Judge Corrie said the rape had left the victim with long-term emotional and psychological effects.

He added: "It's plain that you are, and will continue to be, a risk to young children and you should be kept apart from them.

"That includes your grandchildren of whom you have many.

"I am prepared to accept that your health and your age are both factors, as is the fact that these offences took place a long time ago."

He also said Street had successfully addressed his drink problem which seemed to have been linked to most of his problems.

Mother-of-six Mrs Byfield was not present at the sentencing, but speaking outside court her son Luke, 20, said: "I'm just really proud of her.

"It was hard for all of us but we got there."

After the hearing Mrs Byfield said: "I was shocked when I heard about the sentence.

"In one way I got justice for what happened but at the same time he's still my dad so I have mixed feelings.

"But now I don't have to worry that he's going to hurt anyone else. I feel we can finally put all of this behind us and look forward to the future as a family."