AN ISLE of Wight child rapist who attacked his victim on six occasions has been jailed for 22 years.

David Wells, of Chale Street, Chale, appeared before a judge at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Friday). 

At a previous hearing last month, the 47-year-old was found guilty of four counts of raping a child aged under 13 and two counts of raping her once she was older than 13.

The offences took place between August 17, 2016, and December 31, 2017.

The court heard Wells had 14 previous convictions for 37 offences, but none of a like nature. 

In a statement, read out in court, the victim said she finally had the justice and closure she deserved, and that a massive weight had been lifted.

She said she was a young, vulnerable girl who was taken advantage of, and just seeing Wells gave her horrible flashbacks. 

The court heard the experience led the victim to lose her confidence and find it difficult to trust anybody. 

It made her not want to go out, and led to sleepless nights, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, among other issues. 

Nicolas Cotter, defending, said Wells was heavily overweight and had suffered from significant health difficulties throughout his life.

He said he lived alone and recently suffered through a fire at his home address.

Recorder, Malcolm Gibney, told the court Wells had threatened to make the victim's life a living hell, and treated her as an object for his personal sexual gratification. 

Judge Gibney said Wells described the victim as a troubled child with a vivid imagination and showed no remorse, but the jury saw through his lies. 

He said there was no evidence to suggest Wells understood how his offending behaviour had impacted on the victim. 

Wells was jailed for 22 years, for which he will spend 18 in custody, and four on licence.

He was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, and a restraining order until further notice was made. 

Wells was also ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.