A TEENAGER has begun a 12-year sentence for an attack that left a 16-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries and a legacy of mental and physical scarring.

Paul Nicholson’s last words at Maidstone Crown Court as he was taken away to start his sentence, were to abuse the judge with a tirade of obscenities.

Nicholson, 18, of Zamba Way, Sevenoaks, stood silent in the dock as Judge Andrew Patience, QC, told him: “I have watched you closely and during the trial I detected not a flicker of remorse.”

Earlier prosecutor Michael O’Sullivan said a statement from the victim revealed how the attack had affected her, both mentally and physically.

“Since that time she has become very conscious of her looks. She had 14 scars and she is worried, as she puts it, that people are looking at her because of those scars,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

“It takes her a long time to trust people, and that was because she thought of the defendant as a friend.” When it becomes dark, he said, she prefers to be inside before darkness falls.

Some days she finds herself very upset and rows with friends and family, which was never in her nature. She came close to committing suicide, and actually cut her wrists.

“She describes having so many unanswered questions, as to why she was picked on, and had she done anything wrong. She takes sleeping pills to alleviate the nightmares and flashbacks.”

Despite everything, Mr O’Sullivan told the court, she had been determined to take her GCSE’s and had passed them all with good grades.

On the positive side, the incident had brought her family closer together and she now looked forward to a time when she would be able to help other people who had been through similar events, and she would know how they felt.

The attack, described by the judge as sustained and horrific, took place almost a year ago, in the early hours of March 2 last year. Nicholson approached the girl, whom he knew, as she was waiting outside an electrical shop in Sevenoaks for a lift home.

The judge told Nicholson: “Fuelled by drink, I have no doubt that you were determined to force yourself upon her sexually, which clearly she did not want."

He then forced her into a dark alley behind the shop and indecently assaulted her. That was the prelude to an attack in which she was repeatedly strangled and kicked about the head and body, as he told her: “Shut up. Be quiet. Die.”

At some stage, he picked up a length of electrical plastic tubing and thrust it inside her, causing serious internal injuries.

As he walked away, a young trainee nurse, Claudia Thomas, heard the sounds of the girl’s distress and went to her aid.

After the attack the girl’s face was covered in blood and a pulse could not be found. She was take to the Kent and Sussex Hospital.

An X-ray showed that she had a perforated bowel, which a surgeon said he believed had been caused by an instrument being inserted into the vagina and abdominal cavity to a depth of about 12-18 inches.

Nicholson, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to 12 years in a young offender institution for attempting to murder the girl, and 10 years concurrent - the maximum the law allows - for indecently assaulting her.

Under the Sex Offenders Act 1997, Nicholson must register his name and address with his local police station on his release. The requirement will last for the rest of his life.