A MAN, who committed a string of sex attacks on a 14-year-old girl, was warned to expect a substantial prison sentence by a judge yesterday.

James Thompson, 38, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of raping and assaulting the girl for over a year.

The youngster's ordeal came to an end when she wrote a letter to her mother, saying she was being abused by Thompson.

Roger Elsey, prosecuting, said that after Thompson was arrested, he told police the youngster must have been bullied by other children into making the claims.

However, the jury found him guilty, by majority verdicts, of three charges of rape and two of indecent assault.

Thompson of College View, Esh Winning, County Durham, was warned by Judge William Crawford: "You know the inevitable sentence must be a substantial custodial sentence."

The case was adjourned until January