A serial rapist has been jailed after repeat attacks on a nine-year-old girl.

Monsor Kazi, 54, of Hickling Road in Ilford, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Friday (June 14) to 13 years and six months in jail.

Kazi was found guilty of seven counts of rape and the assault of an underage girl.

The victim's father reported the abuse to the Metropolitan Police in February 2022 and officers arrested Kazi.

Det Con Chloe James, who led the investigation based at Romford Police Station, said: "We're very grateful to the victim for her courage in speaking about the abuse she faced at the hands of Kazi, and the witnesses who came forward to support this investigation.

"He will now spend years behind bars [and] he will be made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life on his release," she added.

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Police had seized the girl's clothes and bedding from a Dagenham property, which were analysed by forensics.

The court heard that the sexual abuse of the child lasted for about six months in 2021.

Kazi was convicted of the offences in October 2022.