A PEADOPHILE raped a 12-year-old girl after meeting her on the internet.

John Astley, 34, of Wyndham Avenue, Bolton, raped the girl, from Chichester, on March 8 in a car park in Hampshire.

On Monday he was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to rape and causing a child to engage in pornography.

Hove Crown Court heard how Astley met his victim in January and met her twice in Sunderland before travelling from Bolton to West Sussex to meet her late at night.

He took her from her home to the retail car park in Havant, and was arrested after the girl’s parents realised she was missing and called police.

Indecent images of the victim were stored on his mobile phone.

Detective Constable David Midgley said the case was “particularly nasty, with Astley taking advantage of a young, vulnerable girl.”

He added: “The sentence imposed reflects the tough stance the justice system takes against people who commit offences against those that are vulnerable."

Astley was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and made subject of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his access to children.