A pervert pensioner who sexually abused a young girl and then swore her to secrecy has been jailed for almost nine years.

Suspicion fell on John Luker, 73, after his young victim told her parents he had kissed and cuddled her.

When questioned further it was revealed that he had carried out various sex acts with her on two days.

A judge told Luker, of South View Road, Tunbridge Wells: “You knew well fine from start to finish what you were doing. I am clear you still do not have full insight into your offending.”

Luker, who appeared at Maidstone Crown Court by TV link with Elmley Prison, Sheppey, admitted oral rape, two offences of sexual assault and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Ed Fowler, prosecuting, said the girl asked if she was going to be in trouble after she revealed to her parents what Luker had done. She said she was not allowed to tell anybody.

He made admissions when arrested in August last year. He claimed he stopped the oral rape because he knew it was wrong.

Mr Fowler said wine was drunk but it was not case of plying the victim with it. He had no previous convictions.

Describing the offences as “horrible”, Crispian Cartwright, defending, said the case was grim for both the girl’s family and Luker, although he brought it on himself.

“The enormity of what happened is dawning in his mind,” he said. “He did face up to it straight away. He was very candid. Had he not made these admissions this case would have been difficult to launch at all.”

Luker had suffered from depression and was “living in socially isolated circumstances”.

He had not heard from his wife since being remanded into custody.

“It is extraordinary and desperately sad that he should behave in this wholly wrong way on these two occasions,” said Mr Cartwright. “He now faces a very bleak and lonely future.

“It is his own fault but doesn’t make it any less grim.”

Jailing Luker for eight years eight months, Judge Philip Statman said the offences brought a sense of outrage among right-thinking members of the community.

“I am satisfied you were grooming her. You told her not to tell anybody what had gone on. You knew you were the adult and she was the child" - Judge Philip Statman

“I am satisfied you were grooming her,” he said. “You told her not to tell anybody what had gone on. You knew you were the adult and she was the child.

“In my judgement, she did from start to finish nothing which could be considered in any way shape or form to be blameworthy.”

The judge added: “I am satisfied these offences were committed for one reason alone, and that was your own sexual gratification.”

He called the girl’s parents up to the bench to tell them: “Your daughter has behaved with the greatest bravery to bring it to your attention and then to bring it to the attention of the courts.”

Det Jacqueline Allen, of the Kent Police Public Protection Unit said: "This is a strong jail sentence which reflects just how vulnerable Luker’s victim was.

"He gained the trust of a very young child so he could abuse and rape her and then told her to keep it a secret.

"Luker was fully aware that what he was doing was wrong and will now have a long time to consider the destructive and damaging effects of his actions."

Luker’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and a sexual offences prevention order was imposed for 10 years.