Brighton man jailed for raping 13-year-old girl

A Moulsecoomb man has been jailed for eight years for raping a 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her.

Graham Wheatley, 40, of Birdham Road, Brighton, admitted raping the girl in Thetford, Norfolk, in 2003.

He also pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting her in Portslade when she was 14 years old.

At Lewes Crown Court today (Friday 5 April) he was jailed and ordered to register as a sex offender for life on his release from prison.

Graham Wheatley

He was also served with a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), severely restricting his access to children.

The charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service after an investigation by Sussex Police detectives based in Brighton and specialising in child protection.

Detective Constable Naomi O’Keeffe said: “No child or young person should have to go through what this victim has gone through.

“She lived in fear for so many years before she had the strength to come forward to police in 2010.

“Now she can move forward and get on with her life at last.”