A sex offender who fled to Spain shortly before being convicted by a jury more than two years ago has been sent to prison to start serving a lengthy sentence.

Andrew Alderman, from Maidstone, was given a further three month sentence for skipping bail but because his absence did not obstruct the trial, a judge made the term concurrent to the 10 years already passed.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the 49-year-old father had intended to kill himself when he fled the country on August 30, 2006, the day the jury retired to consider verdicts.

But he instead went to Spain and finally handed himself in to the British Consulate in Madrid. His details had been circulated on a police most wanted list, as well as Crime Watch and Crime Stoppers.

Deborah Charles, prosecuting, said Alderman handed himself in on November 18 this year and British police collected him from Gatwick airport on Tuesday. He spent the night at Maidstone police station.

Rose Burns, defending, said Alderman misguidedly felt it would be best for his family if he committed suicide, as his brother had in Canada in the 1980s, but instead headed for Spain.

"He feels now he should have taken his life," she said.

Judge Andrew Patience, QC, told Alderman: "It is clear to me you panicked when you saw how the trial was going. Quite what was going through your mind beyond that, I don't know.

"As it is, having got to Spain you lived there for two years before ultimately coming to your senses and realising you had to face up to these grave crimes."

The judge added: "I am persuaded, having regard to the sentence you have to serve, justice does not demand I should extend it in any way."

Alderman was convicted of raping and indecently assaulting a girl and sentenced in his absence by Judge Timothy Nash, who said there had been "an appalling loss of control".

The court heard that Alderman, of Lavender Hill, Tonbridge, raped the victim when she was aged 15.

Detective Inspector David Berry who originally investigated the case, said: “I am pleased with the result which I hope will bring some sense of closure to the victim and her family who have been in limbo for the past two years.

"I would also like to thank the media and our partners at Crimestoppers, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and Interpol for their combined efforts in this case, as the publicity campaign pricked the conscience of Alderman, forcing him to hand himself in.”