A prolific sex offender who sexually assaulted children under the age of 10 has been jailed.

Michael Funnell, of Crownfield Road in Ashford, admitted a number of offences involving five children.

The 31-year-old carried out the assaults between 2016 and 2019 in his home town and Tunbridge Wells.

He was subject to two separate police investigations when he was arrested on Friday October 4, 2019.

At Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, Funnell was convicted of rape, as well as nine counts of sexually assaulting a child.

On top of this, he also pleaded guilty to two counts of making an indecent image of a child after images of abuse were found on his phone.

He also admitted to three counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order and two counts of failing to comply with notification requirements.

"He is a depraved individual who has shown no remorse for his appalling actions"

He was jailed for 14 years, with an extended licence period of five years.

Funnell was categorised as a "dangerous offender", with Judge David Griffith-Jones QC ordering that he serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he can apply for parole.

He was also made subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

DC Deniz Aslan, of the paedophile online investigation team added: "Funnell is a very dangerous and manipulative individual.

"There is no doubt in my mind that he would have continued to offend and present a serious threat to any children he came into contact with.

"He is a depraved individual who has shown no remorse for his appalling actions and who lacks any awareness of the profound harm that sexual abuse causes to children, including the long lasting effects it has on their lives.

"It is reassuring that he now faces a very long time in prison and I would like to commend the tremendous bravery of each of these young children, all of whom have showed extreme courage in coming forward to help our investigations and enable us to bring this man to justice."

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