A man from Crawley has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for child sex offences. 

John Cole was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Friday after a five day trial. He was found guilty of two offences of rape and four offences of engaging in sexual activity against a 10 year old girl between 2017 and 2018.  

West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said that Cole came to know the young girl over a period of time and systematically abused her, taking advantage of her age and natural vulnerability.  The assaults came to light when her mother found a note in a backpack, revealing she had been assaulted by him.

Cole will be a registered sex offender for life.