A 19-year-old man from Kingston-upon-Thames, Dylan Alfie Cullen, after admitting to multiple sexual offences against a child over the course of 18 months.

He pleaded guilty to the charges on 28 October and was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on 23 February. He was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison, with an additional year to be served on licence.

These include rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity.

The victim, a female child, was known to Cullen and the abuse took place between September 2020 and March 2022.

The police were alerted to the abuse on 20 March 2022 after receiving a distressed phone call by the victim’s family, who then arrested Cullen. He declined to answer any questions during the interview.

Detective Constable Annabel Leslie-Miller investigating said: “This has been an extremely challenging investigation but the successful outcome has only been possible thanks to the strength the girl and her family have shown throughout this process.

“I hope now that Cullen has been convicted and sentenced, they can begin to move on with their lives.

“I also hope it encourages anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse to come forward and speak to police; we have specially trained officers who can support you and investigate what has happened.”