A paedophile who groomed a "vulnerable young girl" with gifts before raping her on her birthday has been jailed for 12 years.

Dragos Moisica, of High Street, Edgware, was jailed on Tuesday, October 6 at Harrow Crown Court having been found guilty of rape and sexual assault on a child under 13.

On Tuesday, March 24 the victim told a social worker that on her 12th birthday - in November 2013 - she'd had sex with a 27-year-old man she called "John" in a hotel in Kenton.

A police investigation was launched and the victim revealed further details, including the real identity of Moisica, who she first met when she moved into the area aged just 11.

She said he had given her gifts for her birthday and she loved him and thought he felt the same about her.

Moisica was arrested on Friday, April 17 outside his home and subsequently charged.

Detective Constable Mike Penn, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Moisica preyed on a vulnerable young girl, professing his love for her and showering her with attention, gifts, food and cigarettes.

"All the time he was plotting to have sex with her. A 12-year-old girl cannot legally consent to sex and it is only right Moisica will now serve a long period behind bars for rape."

He had pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to sexual activity with a child under 16, after he raped the victim on her 12th birthday at a hotel in Kenton.

He was found not guilty of a further three counts of rape against a second victim, a 13-year-old girl.