A PERVERT who claimed to have Satanic powers as he sexually abused a young girl has been jailed for 14 years.

As well as making the evil threats to the victim, Peter Rowley also terrified the girl into silence by warning he would lock her in a chest.

A judge told the 62-year-old chronic alcoholic his behaviour was particularly serious and showed the “really wicked” nature of the crimes, which had blighted the girl’s life.

Rowley put his now adult victim through the ordeal of having to relive the horror of the abuse by denying it happened.

He pleaded not guilty to one charge of rape, one of another serious sexual offence and four charges of indecent assault, but was convicted.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Rowley molested the girl in West Malling 20 years ago. She was forced to touch him and perform other sex acts and was raped.

Eloise Marshall, prosecuting, said Rowley had more recently been convicted of indecent exposure.

Charlotte Newell, defending, said the sex offences were “disgraceful and abhorrent” and clearly had a long-lasting effect on the victim.

“There is very little I can put forward by way of mitigation,” she said. “There were, of course, threats – overt and implicit. No actual violence was used.

“I don’t suggest there is no risk.”

Miss Marshall said Rowley, from Sutton, Surrey, accepted he must have committed the offences but could not yet admit it to himself.

“He has been a chronic alcoholic for many years,” she said. “It has had a drastic effect on his working life and relationships. Here he is in his 60s, ruined by alcohol and facing a lengthy term of imprisonment.”

Judge Charles Macdonald, QC, told Rowley: “You sought to ensure her silence by threatening her. You threatened her with Satanic powers. Because of her young age, she believed you.

“For some 20 years she lived with these matters as secrets. The effect on her emotional development has been extremely adverse and serious.

“It seems you have shown some remorse. I think that carries little weight. You didn’t plead guilty to any of these matters.

“You compelled the complainant to the experience of a trial lasting many days.”

Rowley was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and banned from working with children.