A plumber dubbed a “predatory sex offender” has been jailed after admitting raping a child more than 30 times.

Nicholas Rodwell, 46, repeatedly attacked the girl after coaxing her to his home during lockdown.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Rodwell “groomed her and her family” and bought her expensive gifts.

Rodwell, of Herne Avenue, Herne Bay, was jailed for 12 years with an extended licence of three years.

The judge, Recorder Stuart Trimmer CQ, told Rodwell his abuse was “evil” after “worming your way in” to the family.

“There is a significant risk that you will commit further offences and in doing so cause serious psychological harm to young people,” he explained.

Recorder Trimmer added Rodwell “Exchanged digital messages with her deviously as a code language.

“You are truly in my judgement the predatory sex offender - you caused perhaps irreparable damage to the victim.”

Rodwell befriended the girl and her family, then showered her with gifts and promises of marriage, while raping her 32 times, barrister Dominic Connolly said.

Mr Connolly added Rodwell twice tried dissuading her from reporting his abuse to police: “He told her not to tell anyone otherwise he would get into a lot of trouble.”

Police found evidence of Rodwell speaking with the girl in a cryptic language on social media, after arresting him in May this year.

He had deleted footage of himself raping the girl from his phone at that stage and gave a no comment police interview, the court heard.

But he pleaded guilty to 14 sexual offences, before trial with six charges relating to numerous occasions of raping a girl under 13.

Phil Rowley, mitigating, said Rodwell’s mental health deteriorated following the breakdown of a relationship, his “depression compounded by lockdown.”

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