'Enders plot sparks paedophile conviction

A child rapist has been jailed after an EastEnders storyline inspired one of his victims to inform police about his abuse.

Raymond Sharratt, 37, has been sentenced to 18 years behind bars after pleading guilty to two rapes and two indecent assaults on three girls, The Mirror reports.

The crimes were committed more than a decade ago, but it is understood that a conviction was only possible after one of the girls, now in her 20s, decided to break her silence after watching a hard-hitting EastEnders plot centring around Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).

In 2008, it emerged that Whitney - then 15- had been subjected to sexual abuse by her stepmother Bianca's partner Tony King (Chris Coghill) for three years. The storyline concluded late last year when Tony was given a 13-year jail sentence.

Speaking of the Sharratt case, Detective Constable Catherine Thomas said: "It took great courage and determination to bring this man to justice."