A pervert who preyed on a vulnerable girl with a “campaign of rape” and other abuse has been jailed for 20 years.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Michael Kay started touching the victim and offered her sweets to bribe her.

Prosecutor Christopher May said the girl told Kay she did not like what he was doing but he ignored her and had intercourse with her.

She described it as being “nasty” and said she was in tears. She eventually told her ex-boyfriend and others.

Kay was arrested in July 2013. He denied committing any sexual offences with the victim, claiming she had made it up.

The 33-year-old, of Gordon Road, Chatham, pleaded not guilty to two offences of rape and five of sexual activity with a child, but was convicted.

Deborah Charles, defending, said no violence over and above that necessary to commit rape was used. There were no threats to keep quiet.

“The less one says the better,” she continued. “He has lost everything he worked for. This is his first taste of custody. He has just one caution for an unrelated matter.”

"She was vulnerable. There is no mitigation" - Judge Charles Macdonald QC

Miss Charles told Judge Charles Macdonald QC: “I invite you not to make the sentence so long that he loses hope.”

Passing sentence, the judge said: “This was a campaign of rape. I don’t find you are dangerous within the meaning of the Criminal Justice Act but for this extremely serious offending with its inevitable terrible effects on her, a long custodial sentence is inevitable.”

He added: “She was vulnerable. There is no mitigation.”

Kay was sentenced to 20 years for the rapes, seven years for three of the offences of sexual activity with a child and eight years for the remaining two, both concurrent.

His name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and he will be banned from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Investigating officer, DC Ally Smith, said: "Kay put his victim through a horrendous ordeal for several years, repeatedly attacking her and leaving her feeling as though she had no one to turn to.

"He targeted a particularly vulnerable young girl, who believed she could trust him, and his actions have undoubtedly had a terrible impact on her life.

"I would like to commend her for coming forward and assisting us with our investigation. That showed incredible courage."

Detective Sergeant Dan Smith, who oversaw the investigation, said: "Kay is clearly a dangerous and calculating individual who had absolutely no regard for what he was putting his young victim through, and the length of his sentence should send a clear message out to perpetrators of sexual abuse: police will do everything in their power to track you down and bring you to justice."