A MAN from Redditch has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for rape.

Richard Tate pleaded guilty to seven counts of rape, including one count of rape of a child under 13.

The 34-year-old was sentenced on Thursday, October 28 at Worcester Crown court.

Tate pleaded guilty in September to the charges which related to offences he committed in 2020 and 2021.

This followed a lengthy and thorough investigation by a team of North Worcestershire detectives.

Detective Sergeant Paul Willetts said: “Tate committed these horrific offences against a child over a period of time to gain sexual gratification and destroyed a young life.

“I would like to pay tribute and commend the victim in this harrowing case for alerting the police to Tate’s crimes, which has allowed us to bring him to justice.

"We hope the conviction and this substantial prison sentence will bring some measure of comfort.”