A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a teenager in his van - after his barrister was forced to use make-up to cover bruises on his face after he was beaten up in prison.

Charlie O’Driscoll, 37, was accused of having sex with a teenage girl when he was attacked during his trial.

He was on remand at Elmley Prison on Sheppey but had not been on a sex offenders’ wing at his own request.

Top lawyer Kirsty Brimelow QC came to his aid when she used her make-up to cover his facial bruises so they would not be on show to a jury at his trial.

The barrister declared after he was convicted: "It is the first time in rather a long career that I have done that.

"I applied concealer on bruising and swelling, and it was very effective so the jury wouldn't be prejudiced in any way as to how violence occurred.

"He was stamped on his face and left with a red mark which lasted a week. It was very shocking. He was close to tears and absolutely shaken by the experience."

O’Driscoll was cleared of rape and convicted of the sexual activity with a child. He denied both charges.

He has since been moved to a wing for vulnerable prisoners.

The married father-of-four, of Seven Acre Farm, Hever, was jailed for four years and nine months.

Maidstone Crown Court was told he met his 13-year-old victim by chance in October last year.

After giving her alcohol and cigarettes he tried to get a room at a hotel in Westerham and then at Clacket Lane Services on the M25.

His credit card was declined both times, so O'Driscoll stopped in a layby and had intercourse without using any protection.

He said in evidence the girl's company made him “feel young again”.

Judge Philip Statman said there was a significant disparity in age between O’Driscoll and the girl and the “bottom line” was that the law was there to protect such victims.

"You were mature, a man of the world with a family,” he said.

“You knew precisely what it was that you were doing.

"You took the chance and you had sexual intercourse with her. That breaks the law."

The judge called the prison attack “a most disgraceful state of affairs”.

O'Driscoll’s name will appear indefinitely on the sex offenders’ register.

A sexual harm prevention order was made for six years and he will be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jemma Cropper said: “O’Driscoll is a predatory offender who subjected a child to an appalling ordeal.

“His actions have shown him to be a very real danger to young girls and it is entirely appropriate that he has received this sentence.

“I hope this offers some comfort to the victim who showed significant courage in coming forwards to report the crime and support this investigation.”