A FORMER ice cream seller who raped a schoolgirl more than 25 years ago is today beginning a six year jail sentence.Sentencing 61-year-old Malcolm Douglas, Ipswich Crown Court Judge John Devaux said he had abused a "vulnerable and weak girl" in a shocking way.

A FORMER ice cream seller who raped a schoolgirl more than 25 years ago is today beginning a six year jail sentence.

Sentencing 61-year-old Malcolm Douglas, Ipswich Crown Court Judge John Devaux said he had abused a "vulnerable and weak girl" in a shocking way.

In addition to being jailed Douglas, of Reynolds Road, Ipswich, was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and was disqualified for life from working with children.

Douglas had denied two offences of rape, indecent assault and another sexual offence.

He was found guilty of one offence of rape and the indecent assault but was cleared of the second rape and the other sexual offence.

During a three-day trial it was alleged that Douglas used the schoolgirl as a "sexual play thing".

The victim who is now in her 40s claimed that Douglas raped her when she was 11 after asking her for a cuddle.

Douglas admitted having sex with the girl but claimed it had been when she was 13.

He told the court he had asked the girl if she "wanted him" and when she said yes he had sex with her.

Douglas' version of the incident was dismissed as "improbable" by prosecution counsel Simon Spence.

The court heard that Douglas had visited his victim at her home in Ipswich when she was an adult and had indecently touched her.

Caroline Bryant for Douglas told the court that the rape happened more than 25 years ago and asked the court to consider allowing him to attend a sex offenders program in the community rather than jailing him.

She said Douglas was deaf and was taking medication for depression. In addition he had a severely disabled son who was reliant on him.