A teenage girl kept a harrowing diary of the abuse she suffered at the hands of a Sittingbourne man.

The victim told of feeling dirty and disgusted over the mauling she received from Christopher Dingle.

She was already troubled and had been self-harming when the 36-year-old groped her over her clothing while plying her with cannabis and alcohol.

The abuse only came to light when the girl’s mother looked through her diary and saw words such as “violated” and “meat”.

She wrote: “No one will believe me. I am ashamed. I have to keep quiet. Don’t cry. Be strong.”

Dingle, of Canterbury Road, was jailed for four years after a jury convicted him of sexual assault, committed in 2014. He was acquitted of a more serious charge of assault by penetration.

Prosecutor Anthony Prosser said the victim was encouraged to keep a diary to record her feelings when she was self-harming.

She also made entries in her phone stating: “It is another big dark secret I have to hide. Who am I meant to tell? I feel worthless, dirty, hated and guilty.”

The girl’s mother was concerned and asked her daughter what the entries referred to.

“At first, she refused to say, telling her it would destroy her world,” Mr Prosser told a jury at Maidstone Crown Court.

Her mother persisted and eventually the teenager told her Dingle had touched her indecently.

He also admitted to a sister that there had been sexual contact, but claimed the girl had instigated it. But when arrested he denied there was any sexual activity with the girl.

Judge Martin Joy told Dingle: “The evidence was overwhelming because she was a completely compelling witness, who quite plainly had documented at the time what was happening to her at your hands” he said.

“The pattern was to ply her with alcohol - vodka with Red Bull - and cannabis, which she didn’t want.

“There is no doubt your behaviour was utterly disgusting" - Judge Martin Joy

“You told her not to mention it to anyone what you were doing. There was plainly some significant psychological harm.

“There is no doubt your behaviour was utterly disgusting. You manipulated her so that you could have your pleasure with her.”

A sexual harm prevention order was made for five years and Dingle’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register. He will be barred form working with children and vulnerable adults.

The victim said in an impact statement that she had felt suicidal and even made plans to kill herself.

Dingle’s QC Ian Henderson said of his client: “He has his own vulnerabilities, in particular ADHD.”