A Deal care worker has been jailed for 15 years for a horrifying sexual attack on a vulnerable female patient 18 months ago.

Callous Christopher Vooght, 21, subjected his victim, who suffered from severe dementia, to a humiliating ordeal while she lay helpless at the Fassaroe House in Walmer.

Father-of-one Vooght subjected her to an "act of depravity and cruelty" during the incident in August 2012 before raising the alarm, claiming the injury was self-inflicted.

Prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC told Canterbury Crown Court that the woman had to move care homes after the attack and died - from unrelated symptoms - four months later.

Judge Adele Williams said the woman, who was in her late 60s, had not been able to communicate, was bed-bound and needed round-the-clock care.

"It was you who raised the alarm saying you had discovered her injured - but it was you who had caused that injury.

"You then sought to evade your responsibility by trying to blame a seizure and that the injury was self-inflicted. That was totally without foundation."

But a jury found Vooght, of College Road, Deal guilty of sexual assault after hearing how he had stashed a rubber glove containing his victim's DNA in the toilet cistern.

The judge told him: "I have no doubt your victim would have experienced considerable pain and her family would have experienced considerable anguish knowing that this dreadful crime had been committed against her.

"This was a total abuse of trust in you causing such extreme injuries."

The court heard that Vooght's partner and mother of his child ended the relationship on the day of his arrest.

The judge added: "There is evidence from your ex-partner that you were experiencing emotional instability in the weeks leading up to this incident.

"In my judgement, you committed this offence against a helpless victim who was in your care and in your power.

"You used extreme sexual violence on her in order to demonstrate your power over her in an humiliating and degrading way" - Judge Adele Williams

"You used extreme sexual violence on her in order to demonstrate your power over her in an humiliating and degrading way."

John O'Higgins, defending, said that despite the jury's verdict, Vooght continues to deny involvement in "this grave offence."

"And given that denial there is no real indication as to why it happened nor indeed any mitigation that can be offered, other than he is a 21-year-old man who in all other respects had lived a life of some credit."

The judge said the facts of the case were "so unique" that sentencing guidelines were not appropriate and jailed him for 15 years.

She also made him subject to a Sex Offences Prevention Order.