A 36-year-old man has been sent to prison for eight years for raping and indecently assaulting a young girl.

James Adams, from Ramsgate, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court where he admitted a total of 15 sex offences against the girl stretching back over a number of years and including not only rape but also indecent assault, indecency with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and taking indecent pictures of a child.

Matters came to light when the girl, now in her teens, broke down and confided in a teacher and Adams was arrested.

Adams, registered disabled because of epilepsy, was arrested in December last year.

His counsel, Deborah Charles, said he knew to expect a lengthy sentence and had shown remorse. He was a man of previous good character and he did not say the girl was a willing partner. “There was no violence and no pregnancy,” said Miss Charles.

Adams was a man of previous good character but he had destroyed his life and that of the girl. “She has been saved the trauma of giving evidence and he understands he must be punished,” said Miss Charles.

Jailing Adams, Judge Timothy Nash, said it was a tragedy for the girl and what Adams did was unforgivable and almost unthinkable.

“This is one of the worst cases of grooming I have come across and an aggravating feature is the period of time let alone what you did and she will forever suffer.”

Adams will be on the sex offenders' register for life and is also subject of a sexual offences prevention order banning him from being alone with children under 16 without adult supervision and filming or taking pictures of children under 16.