A man who raped a vulnerable girl and then paid her for sex has been jailed for 10 years.

Robert Elliott, 59, of Baden Road, Gillingham, was told he had engaged in "commercial exploitation" when sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday.

"You knew she was short of money, you had had your way with her already without her consent and you decided to continue to satisfy yourself in return for paying her with money," said Judge Michael Carroll.

Elliott denied two offences of rape but was convicted of one. He admitted two offences of sexual activity with a girl ahead of his trial in January.

He was jailed for seven years for rape and three years consecutive for sexual activity.

Elliott was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, formerly known as a sexual offences prevention order.

"She was telling him to stop and get off..." - Edmund Fowler, prosecuting

He must also sign on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Prosecutor Edmund Fowler told the jury at the start of his trial that the victim told police she tried to struggle as Elliott raped her but he pinned her down.

"Throughout this episode she was telling him to stop and get off," said Mr Fowler.

"She was crying. She told police she was a virgin and intercourse was extremely painful."

She also told police that Elliott gave her £150 after raping her. When arrested in 2013 he admitted engaging in sexual intercourse but claimed it was consensual.

"He said it was she who suggested having sex with him in exchange for money," Mr Fowler told the jury. "He said she didn't struggle, cry or tell him to get off.

Alex Rooke, defending Elliott, asked that the sentence be "reasonable and humane".

After sentencing, Detective Constable Katie Barlow said: "Elliott's disgraceful actions put his victim through a tremendous ordeal and I applaud her courage in coming forward and assisting us in prosecuting her abuser.

"His sentence should send a strong warning to anyone else who believes they have the right to abuse children or put anybody through the trauma of non-consensual sexual activity.

"Kent Police has specialist units dedicated to tackling sexual offences. Victims will always be treated with sensitivity and compassion, and we will use every tactic in our power to arrest these offenders and bring them to justice."