A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 years 5 months imprisonment for raping his 7-year-old niece.

The incident happened last year.

Delivering the sentence today, High Court Judge Justice Vinsent Perera told the man that he became a predator when he was supposed to be a protector.

He also told the man “you have brought discredit to all Talevus out there”.

Justice Perera said the man exploited the victim’s vulnerability and there was a serious breach of trust.

He said the only mitigating factor he considered was that the man was a first offender.

The man has been given a non-parole period of 12 years 5 months imprisonment.