A 20-year-old Ipswich man has been found guilty of a string of charges for raping a schoolgirl.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday was Jason Rogers, who is of Downside Close in the Suffolk town, who previously denied nine offences of rape of a girl under 13.

After the conclusion of the trial, which lasted one week, the jury retired on Monday to start its deliberations.

Rogers was found guilty of seven of the rape counts, but not guilty on two of them, as the jury returned to deliver its verdicts just before midday on Wednesday.

The defendant showed little emotion as the seven guilty verdicts were read out in court.

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

He said he had suggested to the girl that they touched each other's genitals and admitted unsuccessfully trying to have sex with her.

In a later statement to police, he said he had been interested in learning about sex and had not been aware at the time that what he was doing was wrong.

He also said he was partly relieved the offences had come to light and was willing to receive help to make sure nothing like it happened again.

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

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

Mr Spence said the victim could remember specific items of clothing such as a Disney Moana and an Elsa dress that she was wearing when the offences were allegedly committed.

Rogers chose not to give evidence during the trial.