A masked sex fiend who escaped justice for raping a stranger at knifepoint 21 years ago was jailed for six years today.

Stanley Daniels, formerly of Blackbull Road, Folkestone, went on to commit another rape in 2005, for which he was jailed for nine years.

The 57-year-old fisherman was still serving that sentence when he was arrested for the sex attack on his 18-year-old victim in October 1989.

The attack happened on Sandgate esplanade, Folkestone.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how advances in DNA testing led to the "cold case" being successfully resurrected.

His victim was in court to see him sentenced.

Balding Daniels stood with his head bowed as Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told him: "It was a wicked and terrible offence.

"You were carrying a knife, with which you threatened the victim, holding it to her face, which only added to the terror, which you manifestly caused her, no doubt as you intended."

Speaking after the sentencing, specialist advisor for the Forensic Science Service Andy Douglas said: "Advances in DNA technology pioneered by the Forensic Science Service enabled us to look again at the materials we had retained from the original investigation.

"Kent Police has been dogged in its determination to bring sexual offenders to justice, no matter how long ago their crimes were committed.

"We have worked closely with Kent Police throughout the investigative process to provide them with new evidence and it is very satisfying that we have been able to help in bringing closure to the victim in this case."