Life for rapist of nine-year-old

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A van driver from Teesside has been sentenced to life in prison for repeatedly raping a nine-year-old girl in a caravan.

Stuart Cairnes, of Harford Street in Middlesbrough, had earlier been found guilty of four specimen charges of rape and one of assault.

Teesside Crown Court heard Cairnes used the girl as a "sex object" in 2007.

The 43-year-old was ordered to serve a minimum of 10 years before being considered for parole.

He was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Sentencing Cairns, Judge Peter Fox told him that it was clear he had intended on keeping the youngster as an object for his sexual gratification.