A FINCHAMPSTEAD man has been jailed for 17 years after committing rape and child sexual abuse in the 90s and 2000s.

Mervyn Harvey, of Kiln Ride, Finchampstead, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court last week for a dozen sexual offences.

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These included:

  • Eight counts of indecent assault arising from offences committed August 1995 and October 2002.
  • One count of rape, committed between August 1995 and November 1997
  • Three counts of indecency with a child, committed between June 1999 and October 2001.

The 62-year-old was sentenced to 17 years in jail for the historic offences.

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He was sentenced to 13 years behind bars for the rape conviction and four years consecutive for the ninth count -- indecent assault -- on the indictment.

Harvey must sign of the sex offender register for the rest of his life and was given a restraining order.

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The Finchampstead man appeared at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, July 1.