AN 83-YEAR-OLD man has been convicted of seven counts of rape against a girl when she was aged between 11 and 18.

On Monday (December 22) a jury found Patrick Foley, 83, of Prinsep Road, Hove, guilty of all seven counts, which all date back to between 1968 and 1975.

He was jailed for 15 years at Lewes Crown Court.

Detective Constable Holly Hallahan said: "The victim has had to live with this for the last forty years and this is a fantastic result for her.

“She has shown enormous courage in coming forward and talking to us about what she endured and now she has the justice she deserves.

“I would urge anyone who has suffered any form of historic abuse to also have the courage to come forward.”