IPSWICH: A child rapist’s traumatised victim has been praised for her courage today after the girl’s attacker was jailed for ten years.

Carl Bagley, of Reynolds Road, Ipswich, was convicted of raping a female aged under the age of 16, and a further charge of sexually assaulting a female.

The 42-year-old had denied the allegations, but was found guilty following his trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Judge John Devaux sentenced Bagley to ten years imprisonment for the rape and also gave him a 12-month concurrent jail term for the sex assault.

During Bagley’s trial, the jury was told DNA was found on a duvet cover taken from a house in Ipswich where the schoolgirl was raped.

Forensic scientists established the sample had a profile which matched that of Bagley.

Prosecutor Robert Sadd said the chances of the DNA being anyone else’s were one in a billion.

After Bagley’s sentencing, detective inspector Tonya Antonis, of Ipswich Victim Care Centre, told how the girl had suffered as a result of the rape and praised her bravery at coming forward.

Det Insp Antonis said: “This was a very serious case and we are extremely pleased with the result.

“The victim has been through a terribly traumatic time, and it took great courage and bravery to bring this man to justice.

“We can only hope that this sentence brings some comfort and closure to her.

“Suffolk Constabulary aim to provide the very best service to victims of rape and have specially-trained officers in place to provide a first response and to support them through the criminal justice process.

“We now also have dedicated investigators throughout the county in our Gemini team who only deal with offences of rape.”

She said he wanted to reassure the public that victims of rape and any other crime will be treated with “dignity and respect”.

She added: “Our officers and support staff will deal with victims sympathetically and support them from the initial reporting stage, right through to court hearings and beyond. We are committed to providing a victim-focused service, with the victim’s needs and concerns as our priority.

“A Sexual Assault Referral Centre for Suffolk will be opening later this year. The centre will be a dedicated, one-stop location, integrated within existing centrally-located health facilities, where female and male victims of rape and serious sexual assault can receive medical care and counselling.”

She said the force was committed to bringing sex offenders before the courts, adding: “Not only does this result show there can be convictions and serious sentences for these sorts of crimes, but also how seriously the authorities take them.”

n Have you been the victim of a sexual assault? Do you have a message of support for this victim? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk