Kidderminster rapist is jailed for nine years
A Worcestershire man has been jailed for nine years for raping a girl.
Scott Ashley Barnes, 22, of Mason Road, Kidderminster, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday for sentencing.
Barnes had earlier pleaded guilty on 28 March at Hereford Crown Court to one count of rape and one count of rape of a female child.
The offences took place in 2005 and between 2007 and 2010 on a girl who was several years younger than Barnes. The victim went to police in 2010.
In addition to the prison sentence Barnes was placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and also made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for an indefinite term.
The order bans him from having any unsupervised contact with a child under the age of 16. He is also banned from working with children for life.
Det Con Mark Churchill, of West Mercia Police, said Barnes's victim plucked up the courage to come forward and report the offences in October 2010.
He said Barnes originally denied the rapes but faced with the growing weight of evidence finally confessed.
Mr Churchill said: "Barnes has put his victim through a terrible ordeal.
"However, thanks to her bravery these despicable offences have been identified and he has been made to pay for them by losing his liberty.
"While it should be stressed that crimes of this nature are rare in West Mercia hopefully the outcome will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to contact the police and have faith that everything will be done to investigate complaints and bring offenders to justice."