WA man jailed on appeal for abusing girl

A man who sexually abused a mentally impaired girl has had his suspended sentence overturned in the West Australian Court of Appeal.

Kenneth Raymond Hassell was convicted earlier this year after a trial of indecently dealing with a 10-year-old girl in 2012.

He was given an 18-month jail term, suspended for 14 months.

But on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal overturned the sentence and ordered that Hassell serve time behind bars, noting the seriousness of the offence.

The court heard that when the victim told her mother about the abuse and Hassell was confronted, he said words to the effect of "she came onto me".

He was then assaulted by another man and broke two toes when he fell over.

Hassell later told police he was intoxicated at the time.

He will be eligible for parole.