A Dutch man who travelled to the UK to rape a 12-year-old girl in Milton Keynes is set to represent his country at the Paris Olympics.

Steven van de Velde, a 29-year-old from The Hague, was jailed in 2016 after admitting to three counts of rape.

He had contacted a British schoolgirl via social media in 2014, and travelled to the UK to meet her several months later - despite being fully aware that she was just 12.

After giving her alcohol, Van de Velde raped her multiple times.

Sentencing Van de Welde at Aylesbury Crown Court in 2016, the judge remarked that he was a talented beach volleyball player.

He told the defendant that his rape conviction meant he would never be able to realise his dream of representing the Netherlands in his sport.

Although the British judge jailed him for four years, Van de Welde was able to serve his sentence in the Netherlands, where he spent just one year in prison.

Media reports suggest that he has now qualified for the Paris Olympics - and that he and another volleyballer will travel to France next month for the event.