A victim of sex abuse more than 20 years ago blamed his attacker for ruining his life and causing him to descend into drugs and crime, a court heard.

He told in a statement how he had been treated for depression, felt worthless and attempted suicide by injecting a potentially fatal dose of heroin.

Ivor Jones molested the victim when he was a young boy and went on to commit "male rape".
The boy did not complain to police until November 2007. Jones made admissions when arrested in May last year.

The 46-year-old, of Danes Hill, Wormshill, Sittingbourne, pleaded guilty to three charges of indecency with a child, indecent assault and two other serious sexual offences.

The victim told officers that turning to a life of drugs and crime was his way of dealing with what happened to him.

"He feels completely worthless and wants to get his life back," said the prosecutor.

Crispian Cartwright, defending, said it was a sordid and sad case with a tragic outcome for both the victim and Jones.

"He realises he must be punished for these events all those years ago,"he said.

Jailing Jones for six years, Judge James O’Mahony said the treatment of the boy had been persistent and deliberate. "The effect on him is dreadful," he said. "He found it difficult to trust anyone. He felt his life was ruined."

The judge ordered that Jones should remain on licence for the full term of his sentence.