Praise for 'bravery and courage' of young rape victim

A man with brown eyes and black dreadlocks stares into the camera
Police praised the victim's "bravery and courage" [Sussex Police]

A man has been given a 21-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault against a young girl.

Keith Williams, 60, of Tintern Close, Eastbourne, abused the victim when she was under 13.

Williams was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday after being convicted in August. He has been put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Det Sgt Nick Green, from the Eastbourne Safeguarding Investigations Unit, praised the victim's "tremendous bravery and courage" in coming forward: “Thanks to her resilience, we have been able to secure this conviction."

The incidents were reported to police in May 2020 after the victim told a family member.

The girl - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - has received support from specially trained officers.

Det Sgt Green said: “This has been a deeply upsetting case and I hope she can now start to rebuild her life.”

He urged any victim of rape or sexual assault to report it to police.

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