Child rapist handed 25-year jail sentence

Keiren Sutherland is beginning a 25-year jail sentence

Detectives have paid tribute to the courage of a girl who was raped aged just five after her attacker was jailed for 25 years.

Officers said the bravery of the girl and her family after the "traumatic ordeal" meant Keiren Sutherland, 29, was now beginning a long prison term after being sentenced on Thursday.

Sutherland had been found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court in May of two charges of raping a girl under 13 and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

Det Con Dani Duncan-Blakley said: "Sutherland is a dangerous sexual predator who is now rightly where he belongs thanks to the courage of his young victim and her supportive family."

'Saw through his lies'

Sutherland, who was investigated by police in Doncaster, was initially given an 18-year sentence on Thursday before the judge ordered he serve an extra seven years as he was deemed a dangerous offender.

Det Con Duncan-Blakley said the victim's help was key to seeing her attacker jailed.

"She went through a very traumatic ordeal at a vulnerable and tender age, before bravely opening up to her family and then telling police what had happened," she said.

"Without her testimony, Sutherland may have never been brought to justice and to add further insult, he made his victim and her relatives endure a trial in court but I am glad the jury saw through his lies and found him guilty of the offences he denied."

In addition to the prison sentence, Sutherland, who also admitted making indecent photographs of a child, was given a 20-year restraining order against his victim.

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