A CONVICTED paedophile, who twice raped a child under 13, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after submitting his victim to a string of vicious sex attacks over a two year period.

Joseph Lee, formerly of Ogilvie Square, Calne, plead guilty to 43 counts of child sex offences at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, May 13.

His offences against a single child victim under 13, included two counts of rape, 14 counts of sexual activity as well as possessing thousands of indecent images of children.

The 31-year-old was arrested on September 9, 2014 and a search warrant was executed, with his computers and mobile phones seized for analysis.

Following further enquiries 1,548 images were discovered on his computer, with 35 videos and 75 pictures being of the most serious level of child sexual abuse, category A.

DC Simon Guerri-Fear, said: “The images and videos found on Lee’s memory cards were some of the most vile depictions of child abuse I have ever witnessed.

"These appalling offences were committed over a period of two years between 2012 and 2014.

“During this time, Lee has put his young victim through an ordeal that nobody should ever have to go through. I am in no doubt that his actions will have a long lasting effect on his victim.”

Lee plead guilty to two counts of rape of a child under 13 and 14 counts of sexual activity with a child under 13.

He also plead guilty to three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images of children and 23 counts of producing indecent images of children.

DC Guerri-Fear said: “I am satisfied with the sentence handed out and I hope this enables the young victim to move forward with his life, knowing justice has been served.

“I also hope this case highlights how seriously Wiltshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service takes child sexual abuse, whether it is recent or non-recent and we will take every action available to bring offenders to justice.”