Child rapist Ralph Stevenson jailed for 18 years

Stevenson committed the offences offences between 2008 and 2013

A man has been jailed for 18 years for a string of sex offences against a child, including rape.

Ralph Stevenson, 69, who is from Nottingham but formerly of Long Eaton, Derbyshire, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court.

He was also told he must remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Stevenson had pleaded guilty to raping a child under 13, nine counts of sexual assault and three counts of taking indecent images of a child.

At an earlier hearing he had also admitted possessing indecent images of children.

The offences were committed between October 2008 and May 2013.

Following his conviction, Sarah Constantine, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "The sentence given to Stevenson reflects the severity of his offences and the devastating and lasting impact this has upon the victim and their family.

"I hope the sentence is of some comfort to them when they try to rebuild their lives and that, one day, they can put this behind them," she added.