A paedophile from Bradford who raped a five-year-old girl has been sent to jail for more than 14 years.

Police described Gavin Prior’s attack on the young girl as “distressing”, after he was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

The sentencing of the 27-year-old, who lived at Back Lane in Clayton, also took into consideration some other attacks.

Prior was found guilty last month after being charged with the rape of a girl aged under 13 years, which happened between February 21 2007 and June 13 last year.

He was also found guilty of an assault of a girl aged under 13 years by touching, and a sexual assault on a female that happened between January 1 2010 and December 31 2010.

All were described as “distressing sexual attacks” by Detective Inspector Vanessa Smith, from the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit.

The officer also praised the bravery of Prior’s victims and their families for reporting the crimes.

“Prior carried out distressing sexual attacks on his victims, one of whom was just five years old at the time of the offence,” said Det Insp Smith.

“We would like to thank the victims and their families for their courage in coming forward and hope that this lengthy sentence will help to bring them some closure to these traumatic incidents.

“The Bradford District Safeguarding Unit has specially trained officers, who will thoroughly investigate any reports of sexual abuse, whether historic or otherwise, with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

Prior was jailed for a total of 14 years and four months.