AN YOUNG girl who was raped in an attack on Portland has called for other victims to 'speak out and take back your rights'.

Rapist James Connell Loveman was today starting a seven-year jail sentence for raping the young girl - after a court heard of the victim's terrifying ordeal.

The 23-year-old was sentenced yesterday at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He attacked the girl in the Old Windmill near Easton on a night in August last year, after 'daring her repeatedly' in a twisted game of truth or dare, Judge Fuller said during sentencing.

Loveman, of Portland, was convicted of charges of rape and assault by penetration today following a trial in September.

He had previously admitted an offence of sexual assault of a female aged under 13.

The victim, who was 11 at the time of the incident, was with her 14-year-old friend and they had spent the evening walking around Portland.

At around 1.30am on Saturday, August 31 they were in the area of Easton Square when they met a man who was sitting on a bicycle.

Judge Fuller said: "You were fully aware that these girls were young children and below the age of consent.

"You persuaded them to join you in a disused windmill. As you made your way your mind clearly turned to sex as you talked about playing truth or dare."

The Judge described how Loveman dared his victim 'repeatedly' before her friend went outside. Once he was alone with the victim, Loveman sexually assaulted her and then raped her before riding off on his bike in the direction of Weston.

Judge Fuller continued: "This girl was 11 years old and you were very much older. She was vulnerable because of her age and people that are vulnerable need protecting. You manipulated things to your advantage.

"The impact of this offence upon her was in no doubt considerable."

Following an investigation led by detectives from the Force’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), Loveman’s DNA was found to be a match of a profile obtained from the victim’s clothing and he was arrested on September 7 2019.

The victim said in a statement: “This journey wasn’t easy at all. Thank you to the people who helped and supported me through these tough times.

“For everyone else, think twice about what you say because you don’t understand how much it could affect someone.

“A word for people who were in the same position as me, it is never your fault. Speak out and take back your rights.”

The victim added that the incident had terrified her and she came forward because she did not want Loveman to do the same thing to someone else and that she would not wish what happened to her on anybody.

She added that she had been hurt by comments made, including online, which implied that she or her family were in some way at fault for what happened or that she had lied.

Prosecutor Nicholas Tucker described how the victim said she was depressed at the time of the incident and was having problems at home. Mr Tucker said: "She spoke of the embarrassment she felt at school, and suffering from cyber bullying. She eventually stopped going to school. She talked about getting recognised in the street and people asking her, 'were you the girl who was raped?'"