A sex beast who degraded and humiliated his young victim with "abhorrent" abuse involving threats and violence has been jailed for 17 years.

Under the sentence for public protection, Phillip Monksfield will have to serve two thirds before he can be considered for release.

He will also be on licence for a further five years.

A judge said the victim's "haunted demeanour" was there for all to see when she gave evidence at her 32-year-old abuser's trial.

Monksfield, formerly of Faversham and Sheerness, denied two offences of rape, two of sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of a child, but was convicted in June.

He also denied a further charge of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of sexual assault, but the jury could not reach verdicts on those charges and the prosecution offered no further evidence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard of offences dating back almost 10 years, Monksfield repeatedly attacked the girl after discovering she had previously been abused.

He groped her asking: "Did he touch you like this?"

He told her she would enjoy having sex with him and threatened that she would regret it if she didn't do what he asked. At one point he pushed her into a cupboard.

"Your actions towards the victim in so many ways robbed her of her childhood...you controlled, manipulated, threatened and used violence in order to maintain her silence" -Judge Philip St John-Stevens

The victim did not go to the police for some time because she felt she would not be believed and was driven to the brink of suicide.

Prosecutor Sarah Ellis said Monksfield repeatedly molested the victim and made her perform sex acts. On one occasion he raped her on a table.

“He would threaten her and say that if she told anyone he would kill her,” said Miss Ellis.

Monksfield, now of Romford, Essex, denied any inappropriate behaviour, saying others may have abused the victim, but not him.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said the victim’s statement showed "the bravery of this young lady" in describing how Monksfield would beat her and make her so scared she did not know what to do.

“I watched the victim give evidence,” said the judge.

“She had to relive the violence you inflicted on her.

“The haunted demeanour of her was there for all to see – her humiliation, degradation, shame and inability to trust those around her, particularly men.

“You remain resolute in your denials. It is abhorrent to all. There is a lack of insight and failure to accept your criminality.”

Monksfield’s name will appear on the sex offenders' register for life.

The judge told him: “Having considered all the material and watched you give evidence, I am quite satisfied you are dangerous. Therefore, there will be an extended sentence.

“Your actions towards the victim in so many ways robbed her of her childhood.

"You controlled, manipulated, threatened and used violence in order to maintain her silence.

“Those mental scars she carries may begin to heal. It is the deep and profound mental anguish you leave behind in the mind of the victim.”

The victim told in a statement read to the court how the prolonged abuse had impacted on her heavily.

She said she struggled in her formative years and could not have a male teacher at school, otherwise she would run away.

“I thought all men were out to get me,” she continued.

“I couldn’t trust them. It had an impact on my learning and mental health.

“I turned to someone else for support and only became victimised again.

"I suffered form post traumatic stress disorder, depression and have a history of self-harming.

"I tried hanging myself twice. I was hospitalised from taking overdoses. I suffered from paranoia – all attributable to the abuse I suffered.

“I just feel so vulnerable. It takes over my everyday life.

"Some days I can’t perform the most simple tasks.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said: "Monksfield poses an extremely serious threat to children and it is right that he is now behind bars.

"He subjected his young victim to a horrific, life-changing ordeal knowing that she had been abused before. It is her bravery in speaking out which has helped bring a violent and dangerous offender to justice.

"We hope she is now receiving all possible support to rebuild her life and move forward."