A pervert who brutally raped a vulnerable man has been jailed under an extended sentence for public protection.

Richard Hayes will have to serve eight years of a 12-year sentence before the parole board will consider it is safe to release him.

The 51-year-old, of Prospect Row, Chatham, had denied five offences of rape and one of assault by penetration, but was convicted last month.

He admitted assaulting the same victim causing him actual bodily harm.

Hayes, said to have a low IQ, was living in Gravesend when he committed the offences in 2015.

“Each offence was characterised by the consumption of a large amount of alcohol,” said Judge Charles Macdonald when he passed sentence at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday.

“There is no mitigation. There is serious victim impact. He lost confidence and became a recluse.”

Prosecutor Ed Connell said the victim was vulnerable because he had learning difficulties. He eventually told a friend what Hayes had done to him and she called the police.

He revealed that Hayes had been drinking when a sex act was performed upon him. He was then raped as he pleaded with his attacker to stop.

The victim was heterosexual and not attracted to men. He had not had sex with anyone before. Hayes also used sex aids on him.

“He felt disgusted and dirty,” said Mr Connell. “The defendant said he would kill him if he told anyone what was happening.”

On another occasion he “went ballistic” and assaulted him.

"There is no mitigation. There is serious victim impact. He lost confidence and became a recluse" - Judge Charles Macdonald

Ann-Marie Talbot, defending, said Hayes was also “relatively vulnerable”, having had a traumatic childhood when abused at an Irish Catholic school. It led to depression, self-harm and alcoholism.

“The victim was particularly vulnerable due to his personal circumstances,” she said. “Mr Hayes maintained his innocence.”

Judge Macdonald said of Hayes, who will be on licence for a further three years at the end of the sentence: “The facts speak eloquently of dangerousness.

“He is remorseless, he is in denial and there is a continuing degree of anger towards the complainant.

“There is a long history of alcohol abuse which has led to liver disease. A report says he has been brewing hooch in his remand cell.

“I have no doubt this defendant presents a significant risk of reconviction for offences of serious harm to the public in the same position as the victim.

“I pass an extended sentence. It would be perverse not to do so.”

Hayes’ name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

After the hearing, Detective Constable Gordon Lindsay said: "Richard Hayes took advantage of a vulnerable man to meet his own sexual desires, subjecting him to some dreadful crimes in the process.

"He will now serve a significant amount of time behind bars, as is appropriate for such serious offences.

"The victim in this case displayed tremendous courage in supporting the investigation into Hayes, and I hope this result is of some comfort to him. His actions have helped spread an important message that victims of sexual offences need not suffer in silence."