A former soldier who inflicted horrendous sexual abuse on five girls over a period of more than 30 years has been jailed for life.

A judge said it was one of the worst cases he had known to come before the court.

“The picture that has emerged is one of extreme - even breathtaking - depravity,” Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told Richard Songhurst.

“You used young girls as playthings for your sexual gratification as and when you wished without compunction.”

“The story related to the court reveals one of the worst cases of its kind which has ever come before this court” - David Griffith-Jones QC

Despite pleading guilty to 29 offences, 50-year-old Songhurst could not resist an even stare at some of his victims sitting in the public gallery as he was led away to the cells.

He will have to serve seven-and-a-half years before he can be considered for parole. He will be on licence for the rest of his life.

Songhurst, of St Mary’s Road, Strood, admitted seven offences of rape, 14 of indecent assault, three of indecency with a child, three of sexual assault and two of assault by penetration.

Maidstone Crown Court heard on Friday Songhurst was aged 18 and on leave from the Army when he began the abuse.

He involved two of the victims at the same time. It led to him molesting them, getting them to touch him and finally rape.

Prosecutor Isobel Ascherson said one girl was unconscious when Songhurst had sex with her. Three more victims followed.

He was eventually arrested when one went to the police last year and others came forward.

Miss Ascherson said Songhurst made partial admissions but there were “still levels of denial, even behind he pleas”.

Victim statements showed the devastating effect on them and their families.

“These children were so young, all young children are at risk from him,” declared Miss Ascherson.

“In short, you have devastated the lives of five young girls. You stole their childhood. You groomed them and abused them in the most extreme ways" - Judge Griffith-Jones

Judge Griffith-Jones said victim statements made harrowing reading and revealed the catastrophic effect on them and those close to them.

“In short, you have devastated the lives of five young girls,” he told Songhurst. “You stole their childhood. You groomed them and abused them in the most extreme ways.

“There is very little mitigation. I have no hesitation in concluding that by any measure you pose the greatest danger to any young girls you come into contact with.

“Your deviant and perverted thinking is entrenched, as is your lack of insight and empathy. It is impossible to forecast whether you will ever change such that the risks you pose will subside to any appreciable extent.”

The judge added: “You will remain incarcerated for a considerable period. I feel driven to conclude without hesitation that the only way of ensuring the public is afforded protection is by passing a life sentence.”

He praised victims and family in the public gallery for their “dignified silence”, which could not have been easy.

“I hope to some limited extent today’s proceedings may bring some degree of closure,” he said.

Songhurst’s name will be on the sex offenders’ register for life and he is barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

The judge said if he had imposed a determinate sentence it would have been one of 15 years.

Passing sentence, he said: “The story related to the court reveals one of the worst cases of its kind which has ever come before this court.”

It involved grooming and regular, routine and systematic abuse.

“You were arrested and this appalling catalogue of abuse of young girls was finally brought to an end,” the judge continued.

“You minimised your responsibility and remain in large part in denial, claiming you only did what you admitted you had done to give pleasure to them.

“Even now you display only minimal victim empathy. You remain in denial as to your obvious sexual attraction to young girls and do not recognise the true enormity of what you have done and the implications for your victims."