A MAN who raped a young girl over a five-year period has been jailed.

Keith Alan Fairbrother assaulted the girl in the early 2000s, when he was in his 40s.

The assaults took place over a five-year period when the girl was in her early teens.

Fairbrother had come to know the victim’s family over time and used this friendship to exploit her.

The 59-year-old was convicted of four offences of rape and three offences of sexual assault by penetration.

At Chichester Crown Court, Fairbrother, of Glovers Lane, Bexhill, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after a two-week trial.

The Argus: Keith Alan Fairbrother, of Glovers Lane, Bexhill Keith Alan Fairbrother, of Glovers Lane, Bexhill

Detective Constable Ella Bigsby, of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: "He had come to know the victim's family and gained her confidence over a period of time, enabling him to exploit her for his own sexual gratification.

"His victim showed great courage in contacting us, supporting the investigation and giving evidence in court, resulting in his conviction and the removal from the streets of an opportunist but predatory sex offender."

In a statement, the victim said: "In coming forward to the police, I finally did what adults around me should have done all those years ago, and became the person I needed when younger.

“Thank you to everyone who was involved in the case, with a special thank you to DC Ella Bigsby for being my strength, barrister Jennifer Gray for being my voice, and the jury."

Detective Constable Bigsby added: "This is another example of the way in which justice can be achieved for victims of sexual offences, no matter when the offending took place."