A 20-year-old Ipswich man accused of raping a schoolgirl has chosen not to give evidence during his trial.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday ( September 26) was Jason Rogers of Downside Close, Ipswich, who has denied nine offences of raping a girl under 13.

The court has heard that in a note written after the girl made allegations against him Rogers said he had “tried things he’d seen on the internet” with the alleged victim and that he hated himself for what he’d done.

In a later statement to police he said he’d been interested in learning about sex and hadn’t been aware at the time that what he was doing was wrong.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said the offences came to light in January 2022 when the girl told her mum what Rogers had allegedly done to her.

On Wednesday, the girl’s mother gave evidence and told the court how her daughter told her about the alleged rapes.

The mother said she told her daughter that she was a very brave girl and she loved her very much.

The trial, which is expected to end this week or early next week, continues on Friday (September 27) when Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley is expected to sum up the case to the jury.