The jury in the trial of a 20-year-old Ipswich man accused of raping a schoolgirl has retired to consider its verdicts.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Monday was Jason Rogers, who is of Downside Close in Ipswich.

The defendant has been on trial having denied nine offences of rape of a girl under 13.

The jury retired to consider its verdicts on the charges on Monday and will continue its deliberations at the court on Tuesday.

The court has heard that in a note written after the girl made allegations against him Rogers said he had “tried things he had seen on the internet” with the alleged victim and that he hated himself for what he had done.

He said he had suggested to the girl that they touched each other's genitals and admitted unsuccessfully trying to have sex with her.

In a later statement to police, he said he had been interested in learning about sex and had not been aware at the time that what he was doing was wrong.

He also said he was partly relieved the offences had come to light and was willing to receive help to make sure nothing like it happened again.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said the offences came to light in January 2022 when the girl told her mother what Rogers had allegedly done to her.

The girl's mother had previously told the trial that she told her daughter that she was a very brave girl and she loved her very much.

Mr Spence said the alleged victim could remember specific items of clothing, such as a Disney Moana and an Elsa dress, that she was wearing when the offences were allegedly committed.

Rogers chose not to give evidence during the trial.