By A Correspondent| A Coventry man has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of raping a child under the age of 13.

Khumbulani Sibanda was convicted at trial and told he must serve at least 10 years behind bars after abusing the young child.

The “dangerous offender” will spend a further three years on extended licence, or eight if he is released after 10 years in prison. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The 43-year-old committed his crimes between 2016 and 2018 but his crimes did not come to light until January 2021.

Detective Constable Suzanne Leah said: “The child was so young, they would not necessarily have understood how badly they were being abused. Sibanda completely took advantage of the child’s young age and innocence for his own sexual gratification, and I am pleased the length of the sentence reflects the severity of his crimes.”

Sibanda, now of Fosse Road South in Leicester, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on Thursday (August 24). He was also sentenced to 12 weeks each for sexual assault and exposure, which will run concurrently.

-Coventry Telegraph