A former head teacher molested a young girl and then told her not to tell anyone as "everything would go wrong".

In what was described as a "spectacular fall from grace", Anil Gaind also tried to blame the child and later refuted her claim as to how long the indecent touching had lasted.

But at the 61-year-old Bearsted resident's sentencing last week (November 13), a judge told him whatever the length of time was, she had "lost her innocence" that night at his hands.

Gaind, of Button Lane, subsequently pleaded guilty to sexual assault. The offence was not related to his teaching role.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the paedophile touched the girl inappropriately over clothing.

But on deciding he could be spared jail, Judge Julian Smith highlighted the "sinister and chilling" aspects of the abuse, which was reported in March last year.

He told Gaind that his warped behaviour "brings to an end your good name and good character".

Describing his former career as "impressive and successful", the judge added: "It amounts to a spectacular fall from grace, and for your victim, a life-changing loss of confidence and certainty.

"I think you understand the consequence (of what you did) but I don't think you understand why and there is a good deal to be done by you and for you before you reach an understanding.

"There is always a concern that until you do understand what drove you to behave in this appalling way you remain a risk."

Of the offence itself, Judge Smith continued: "You gave her a massage. But it went on from that and became something far more sinister.

"You say it wasn't for as long as she estimated but that doesn't matter. Whether 20 minutes, five minutes or half-an-hour, that loss of innocence and loss of trust occurred that night.

"She froze and, in a frankly chilling phrase, she said she 'let you finish'. She told you it was wrong and she was going to tell her mum.

"You asked her not to because you said 'everything would go wrong.' You put the blame on her for what you did and the consequences that followed from what you did.

"It was never her fault. None of this could ever be her fault. It was yours."

The court heard that following his arrest Gaind denied having any sexual attraction to children.

His teaching career, which was said to be a long-held ambition and realised in his 40s, came to an end due to ill health.

Referring to the significant impact the abuse had had on his victim, Gaind was told by Judge Smith that it should be "a matter of the most profound shame" for him.

However, he explained that immediate custody was not needed, having taken his background and character into consideration, as well as the help that could be offered to him by the probation service as opposed to a short spell behind bars.

Imposing a 10-month jail term suspended for 18 months, with conditions of a sex offender treatment programme, 30 rehabilitation activity requirements and 180 hours of unpaid work, Judge Smith concluded: "I am sure we will not see you in this court again."

Gaind will be barred indefinitely from working with children and vulnerable adults and subject to a sexual harm prevention order as well as sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.