An elderly pervert who committed sex offences with a girl dating back more than two decades has been jailed for four years.

David Hillier, of Princes Terrace, Dymchurch Road, Hythe, admitted one charge of attempted rape and four of indecency with a child.

The 70-year-old former refuse collector entered the guilty pleas shortly before he was due to stand trial.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Hillier had in 1985 been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a young girl.
In the latest offences, he made the victim perform a sex act on him and rewarded her with a payment of 20p.

Hugh Forgan, prosecuting, said Hillier continued to groom the girl with inducements until he attempted to rape her.

Mr Forgan said the victim did not go to the police until 2007. Hillier denied all the allegations when arrested in 2008.

Linda Sweet, defending, said Hillier’s late wife was a hard woman who totally dominated him. He handed over every single penny he earned to her.
Miss Sweet said Hillier was extremely unwell and was receiving treatment for colonic cancer.

Judge Jeremy Carey said the abuse had a devastating effect on the victim and it was reasonable to infer it was unlikely to ever fully dissipate.

Such offending, he said, was highly manipulative. The sentence was significantly less than it might have been because of Hillier’s age and poor health.

Hillier was banned from working with children under 16 and his name will appear on the sex offenders’ register.