Ryan Beeston met up with his victim in Staffordshire after meeting onlineRyan BaileyRyan Bailey(Image: Staffs Police)

A man who raped an underaged girl he met online has been jailed.

Ryan Bailey, who was actually 19, pretended he was a 15-year-old boy when he chatted to the girl online.

Last December, Bailey convinced his victim to meet him at a location in Staffordshire and said he had been given £400 to come and see her.

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When they met up, Bailey raped her.

After hearing about the meeting, officers from Staffordshire Police moved quickly and arrested Bailey when they were both getting a train.

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The survivor was safeguarded and spoken to about what happened in confidence, resulting in the offences being disclosed.

Bailey was charged with rape and taken to court.

On October 2, Bailey of Beeston, Nottingham, was sentenced to three-years-and-nine-months behind bars at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday 2 October after he admitted the rape of a girl under 13 at an earlier hearing.

As part of his sentencing, he was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and put on the Sex Offenders Register.

Detective Constable Mylene Bepole, from Staffordshire Police’s child protection unit, said: “The survivor in this case has shown tremendous courage in coming forward and telling us about Bailey’s offending.

“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to build the evidence needed to secure his sentence and I hope it serves as a reminder to any survivors of sexual offences that we are here to support you and to act against those responsible for these abhorrent crimes.”

Police added: “If you’re a survivor and you want to talk to us, call 101 or use Live Chat on our website.

“Anyone who has experienced this type of crime should feel confident to report their experiences of harm to the police directly or indirectly, safe in the knowledge that they will be taken seriously and that they will be treated with dignity and respect.”