A paedophile who raped and sexually assaulted a young girl has been jailed for more than a decade.
The sexual abuse by Kevin Mellors, of Glenalmond Avenue, Cambridge, took place in the city between 2018 and 2020.
The offences only came to light in October 2020 when the girl confided in two close friends.
Mellors, 66, was arrested but in police interview denied the allegations and claimed he had no sexual attraction to children.
However, after a nine-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court in April, jurors found him guilty of raping a child under the age of 13, and two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration.
Mellors was sentenced at the same court on Thursday where he was handed a total of 14 years in prison with an extra one year on licence.
He must serve two thirds of his sentence before being considered for release.
He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, also indefinite, to monitor any future offending.
DC Terry Bandoo, of the force’s Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (CAISU), said: “The defendant’s horrific sexual abuse of his victim initially went undetected, and I am pleased he has finally been brought to justice.
“Regardless of when it happened, we will always take reports of sexual offences, including child sex abuse, incredibly seriously.
“We have specially trained officers who are there to support victims and bring offenders to justice. Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities.
“The defendant’s abuse has had a huge impact on his victim, and I hope she and her family can now find some closure from this traumatic period of her life.”
For more information and advice about child abuse, visit the force’s dedicated web page.
Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to a child, can apply for disclosure information through Sarah’s Law.
Anyone who looks out for the welfare of a child can make an enquiry. This can include parents, carers, guardians, extended family, friends, and neighbours.
