A youth football coach was allowed to work with youngsters despite admitting a sex assault on a 15-year-old girl – and then carried out another depraved attack on a second victim.

Former Archbishop’s School pupil Jack Anelay, 20, who has held roles with Herne Bay Youth FC, was allowed to continue coaching under the wing of an FA mentor after receiving a police reprimand for the first assault in 2011.

But last August he subjected an even younger girl to a prolonged sex attack, leaving her so traumatised she attempted to take her own life.

Now he has been locked up for seven years after admitting five sex charges at Canterbury Crown Court.

The Judge heard how after the first assault Anelay, of Spenser Road, Herne Bay, was assigned a “mentor” by the Football Association for his work with Herne Bay Youth.

He then confided his sexual fantasies to the mentor, who alerted authorities.

Prosecutor Danny Moore said: “Because of the caution he had been allocated a mentor by the FA because of his coaching role with youngsters, designed to assist him.

“The mentor contacted social services who, in turn, contacted police, because of concerns he had about things the defendant was saying.”

"This man's imagination was fuelled by what is available on the internet" - Kerry Waitt, defending

Mr Moore said Anelay revealed he had sexual fantasies about taking risks while having sex with young girls and was hooked on internet porn.

Police officers went to his home in December to discuss the possibility of setting up a civil sex offences prevention order.

But while there they seized his iPhone and laptop and discovered he had been downloading sexually explicit sex stories involving children and illegal images of children.

In February this year a young girl was admitted to hospital after a suicide attempt which she linked to a sex ordeal – but refused to disclose who her attacker was.

Detectives probed Anelay’s phone and discovered he had started a friendship with the girl on Facebook, trying to get her to play “truth or dare”.

The girl, who was not a member of the football club, refused, telling him it was “a bit weird”, but Anelay continued to regale her with perverted stories.

Mr Moore said Anelay was challenged by officers and admitted he had groomed the child and had carried out a prolonged attack after tricking her into going to a friend’s house.

Just weeks before he had co-ordinated Herne Bay Youth’s summer football tournament.

Internet searches reveal Anelay had in the past held assistant coaching roles with the club’s under-12 and under-14 girls’ teams, as well as helping out at a training session at Herne Bay Infant School.

But when asked to comment this week, the club’s welfare office directed us to the Football Association.

FA Group spokesman Danny Lynch later said: “We’re aware of the situation and will make no comment on the matter at this time.”

Anelay, who admitted five charges including downloading illegal sex images, was ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for life and sent to a Young Offender’s Institute for seven years.

The judge, Recorder Anesta Weekes QC, told him he had caused his victim “severe psychological harm” by trying to fulfil his perverted sexual fantasies.

Kerry Waitt, defending, said: “This man’s imagination was fuelled by what is available on the internet.”