A TEENAGER who raped a seven-year-old girl in Weymouth has been jailed for nine years.

Joshua James Andrew Foster, 19, was convicted of rape of a child under the age of 13 following a trial at Dorchester Crown Court.

The charge related to an accusation that he forced the young girl to perform a sex act on him.

Foster, of Hereford Road, Weymouth, was also found guilty of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity following an allegation that he exposed himself to the same young victim and ‘dared’ her to perform a sex act on him.

Both offences took place in January of this year.

The teenage defendant broke down in tears in the dock as the guilty verdicts were delivered.

Earlier in the trial, witnesses had watched a recorded police interview in which the young victim, who is now eight, told police about what happened to her.

She said the first incident with Foster was a ‘secret’ and described it as ‘gross’ before going on to use dolls to show the interviewing officer how he had forced her to perform the sex act.

The girl said: “I didn’t want to do it but he just forced me.”

The young victim then told how on another occasion she and Foster were playing a ‘dare game’ when he exposed himself to her and dared her to perform a sex act, something she refused to do.

She said in interview: “He wanted me really badly to do it but I didn’t want to.”

Foster gave evidence and completely denied any sexual activity ever taking place but it took the jury of seven men and five women just over four-and-a-half hours to reach guilty verdicts on both counts.

As he returned to court to be sentenced Lee Christmas, representing Foster, asked Judge Roger Jarvis to consider his client’s youth and previous good character when deciding on his punishment.

The judge told the defendant: “The jury has convicted you of one of the most serious offences in the criminal calendar.”

He added: “The crown’s case is that it was borne out of your own sexual frustration.

“This was little girl who had no real concept of what was going on and you took appalling advantage of that child to vent those sexual frustrations.”

Judge Jarvis said the emotional effects of Foster’s offending could remain with his young victim forever.

He said: “It will be a burden to her for the rest of her life.

“Your inability to control your sexual requirements means that you must now spend a very long time in custody.”

Judge Jarvis sentenced Foster to nine years in prison for the rape charge and six years for inciting or causing a child to engage in sexual activity, with the two sentences to be served concurrently.

Foster will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Victim's father welcomes ruling

THE FATHER of Foster’s young victim has welcomed the nine-year sentence handed down by the judge and said it was no less than he deserved.

He said: “I am glad with the result that he got nine years, he deserved it. She’s a brave girl and if she hadn’t come forward he could have done that to someone else.

“He’s definitely got everything he deserved.”

The girl’s father also praised the role of the police in bringing Foster to justice.

He said: “They have done a good job and the way they have worked with my daughter has been really good.”

Following the verdict officer in the case Detective Constable Georgina Guyett issued a statement praising the young victim’s ‘strength and courage’ in coming forward.

She said: “Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team would like to take this opportunity to express their thanks to the victim in this case.

“It took a great deal of strength and courage to come forward and speak up against Mr Foster and their actions in doing so have protected others from being potential victims. We would like to reassure all victims of abuse that they can come forward at any time and in confidence to talk about their own specific situation.”