AN Evesham teenager has been given a 15-year sentence for raping a girl under 13.

Eric Griffith, aged 19, from Burford Road, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, December 23, after he was convicted at Worcester Crown Court at a previous hearing.

A jury of eight women and four men also found him guilty of two counts of attempted rape of a child under 13 and three of sexual assault but cleared him of 13 other charges.

The offences came to light after one of the girls spoke up following a visit to their school by ChildLine, the child protection charity, which said children should have the confidence to speak out.

Griffith was ordered to serve nine years in custody and six on licence.