A 23-year-old man who sexually assaulted a schoolgirl while on holiday in a Suffolk village when he was 17 has been jailed for 32 months.

James Rhind was convicted by majority verdicts by a jury after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court in January of sexually assaulting a child under 13 by penetration and sexual activity with a child.

He had denied the charges and sentence was adjourned until Monday (April 17).

In addition to being jailed Rhind, of Valley Drive, Durham, was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

In an impact statement the victim’s father said his daughter had experienced suicidal thoughts since the assaults and had required hospital treatment after self-harming.

He urged the court not to allow Rhind to “blight” any other young lives.

The court heard that Rhind sent text messages to the girl’s father four years after the assaults saying he was "sorry" for what he did, that it was "stupid" and that he had "regretted it ever since".

During his trial it was claimed that Rhind, who had been on holiday in Walberswick, offered to show the nine-year-old victim “a cool spot” that would feel “really good” if it was rubbed.

He had them pointed to the area and asked the girl if she would like him to touch it for her but she said “no”.

Rhind, who was 17 at the time, later asked the girl again if she would like him to show her how to do it, and then undid her shorts.

Rhind had also kissed the girl on her shoulder and thigh. 

The court heard that Rhind, who has no previous convictions, had identified as a female since 2021 and had a number of issues.