A convicted paedophile sexually abused a young girl he met at a restaurant.

Roshan Rai targeted his victim when he was subject to a court order banning contact with underage females, having been jailed for more than four years in November 2018 for a string of child abuse offences.

Canterbury Crown Court was told that as well as repeatedly trying to force his hand down the youngster's clothing, he had also taken her into a basement where he laid her on the floor, climbed on top and kissed her face.

But in spite of his previous convictions and the deliberate flouting of his court-imposed restriction, a judge decided to spare the 33-year-old an ongoing prison sentence having already spent time on remand.

Rai abused the girl after meeting her last year at the business in Folkestone.

Prosecutor Caroline Knight said the impact of his depraved behaviour had left his victim "struggling" to cope and her family with a sense of guilt for not "protecting" her.

Rai, of Firs Lane, Folkestone, gave a “no comment” interview following his arrest but later admitted two offences of sexual assault and one of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Six years ago the same court heard details of how, while working as a trainee teacher, he had groomed an 11-year-old girl online by posing as a 14-year-old boy and asking her to send him explicit pictures.

He also exchanged indecent images with a 14-year-old girl, having claimed on that occasion to be 17.

After his arrest, police searched his home and found thousands of child abuse photos and videos which he had downloaded from the internet, as well as 'upskirting' footage he had filmed of unsuspecting schoolchildren, on a computer, phone and storage device.

The covert recordings also included footage taken in a pool communal changing area and showing children as young as three years old putting on swimming costumes.

He later pleaded guilty to nine offences and was jailed for a total of four years and two months.

But at his latest sentencing hearing on June 27, Judge Simon Taylor KC said he could spare Rai more days behind bars as the time already served on remand amounted to the equivalent of a 17-month jail term.

He also highlighted the ongoing need for the sex offender to "work on himself" so that he does not fall foul of the law again.

‘You deserve, and have in fact received, a custodial sentence for breaching the order and you have served a sentence of 17 months…’

Imposing a two-year community order with 50 rehabilitation activity requirements, Judge Taylor told Rai: "It was a very serious breach and caused very serious harm because your breach resulted in the sexual abuse of a child.

"It may not have been of the gravity this court often sees but any offence causes harm.

"I want to make it very clear to you Mr Rai that you deserve, and have in fact received, a custodial sentence for breaching the order. You have served a sentence of 17 months.

"But I don't want anyone to think I wouldn't be sending you to prison today if you had not already served that sentence of imprisonment.

"The positive that comes out of these proceedings is that I'm in a position today to make an order that will assist in your rehabilitation.

"You can work on resolving the difficulties you have in leading a law-abiding life.

"But I want you to be very clear. You have served your term in prison and you did deserve one for this offence."

Rai appeared for his hearing via video link with Elmley Prison and was expected to be released from custody that same day.

He will still be subject to his SHPO, as well as a requirement to sign on the sex offender register.

Nichola Cafferkey, defending, had told the court the defendant had taken "positive steps" to address his alcohol misuse while on remand and had also become a co-ordinator for the Shannon Trust helping fellow inmates to learn how to read.