A woman who was raped repeatedly has been praised by police for her courage in coming forward as her attacker was jailed for 17 years.

Peter Breeden, of Harold Street, Dover, was found guilty of several offences of rape and indecent assault dating back to the 1990s and when the victim was a child.

Now the 68-year-old has been sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.

During police interview, Breeden denied rape and said it was a consensual sexual affair that only began when the girl reached 16.

The woman finally felt able to report the assaults in 2011 and the officer who led the investigation praised her courage in coming forward.

The officer also hailed her bravery during the investigation and the resulting court case.

DC Sam Robertson, from the Kent Police Public Protection Unit, said: "We welcome the sentence imposed on Breeden.

"It will not take away the emotional and physical hurt that this woman had to endure as a young girl, but it does bring some closure after she struggled over whether to report the abuse to police.

"I hope that this case shows that historic allegations of abuse will be investigated fully by Kent Police and where we have sufficient evidence, offenders will be put before the courts and punished for what they forced their victims to endure."