A man has been jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of raping, sexually assaulting and taking indecent images of a young girl.

Karl Raine, 43, formerly of Warren Avenue, Fakenham, was found guilty of one count of rape, two sexual assaults and three counts of making and taking indecent images following a two and half week trial at Norwich Crown Court.

Raine had pleaded not guilty, meaning his victim had to give evidence against him during the trial; however a jury found him guilty of all six counts.

After receiving intelligence from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), part of the National Crime Agency (NCA), a warrant was carried out on April 24 2014 at his address by members of Norfolk Constabulary's Safeguarding Children Online Team (SCOLT).

This warrant instigated a detailed investigation where Raine was further arrested on June 28 2014 on suspicion of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and again on July 21 2014 on suspicion of rape of a female under 13.

He was charged on April 16 2015 with six offences relating to child sexual abuse and taking and making indecent images of children and was released on police bail.

A second referral to the SCOLT prompted another search of Raine's property on January 12 2016. When police arrived Raine threatened officers with what was later identified as an imitation firearm. He denied the offence but was later found guilty of causing fear or provocation of violence with an imitation firearm.

Raine was sentenced on Wednesday for all the offences and was jailed for 18 years and placed on the sex offender's register for life.

Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Ngaire Alexander, said: 'This is another case which highlights that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for accessing indecent images or grooming and abusing children. If you do, you will leave a digital footprint and we will find it.

'We would urge anyone who has been abused or sexually assaulted to come forward, safe in the knowledge that we, together with our partners within child protection, will provide help and support, and do all we can to identify, charge and bring before the courts those responsible.

'I cannot take away from the impact that this abuse had on the victim in this case, but today justice has been served and a predatory and manipulative child sex offender faces the consequences of his actions.'