A tattooed sado-masochist has been jailed for 18 years after raping a child 30 years ago.

Stefan Farbrother appeared in court with horn implants in his head, a split in his tongue and his face covered with tattoos.

A jury convicted him last year on four counts of indecent assault and three rapes. He had denied them.

Now the 47-year-old father will have to serve at least 12 years before he will be considered for parole and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

After the verdict at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Robert Lazarus read a report from Lancashire Police who investigated a complaint about the pervert.

He heard how Farbrother – who now lives in Halifax, Yorkshire – was reported to have been seen wearing a spiked dog lead and occasionally going on all fours and barking in Leyland, Lancashire.

The judge added that although the claims were probed by police, no charges were ever brought.

But in the 1990s he used handcuffs and a knife to carry out his twisted sex attacks – which were brought to the attention of adults, police and social services but no action was taken.

Judge Lazarus said the attacks were horrific and carried out to satisfy his perversions.

Prosecutor Tanya Robinson had revealed how he sexually assaulted his victim in Sevenoaks more than 30 years ago.

She said: "The victim told police in a taped interview that she remembered trying to get away.

"She would try to kick him and push him off but he would lie on her and she couldn’t move."

Ms Robinson said the victim had been left traumatised by the attacks, and had begun self-harming and wanted to kill herself.

"She said she hated it and explained that sometimes he would give her toys like Smurf figures,” she said. “He would also handcuff her.

"In her video interview, she described the defendant smashing panes of glass at an allotment and cutting his hands open.

"She says ‘he’d punch the glass until I said that I forgave him’. She said she forgave him when she didn’t, because she couldn’t let him kill himself 'because that would be my fault’.”

Leading the case was Detective Sergeant Adam Ferguson, part of a Kent Police team dedicated to investigating sexual abuse and rape.

Det Sgt Ferguson said: “Farbrother targeted the victim over a period of many years. He subjected them to the most appalling and terrifying campaign of abuse, using violence and threats which included restraining them with handcuffs and holding a knife to their throat.

“I would like to thank the victim, who has been incredibly brave to come forward and give evidence.

“The abuse has had a catastrophic effect on much of their adult life, but I do hope they can now move forward from this knowing Farbrother will be serving a lengthy prison sentence.

“Successful convictions such as this are just one of the reasons we continue to urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to contact the police. It is never too late to report a sexual offence. You will be believed.”