by Keith Hunt

"Violent and controlling" Simon German collapsed in the dock as a jury convicted him of horrific sex abuse of young girls.

The foreman had delivered some of the 13 verdicts when Simon German keeled over. An ambulance was called and he recovered after a few minutes.

Meanwhile, the remaining verdicts were taken in another court in his absence. Now, the 31-year-old, of Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, is facing a long jail sentence.

He denied three charges of rape, one of attempted rape, four of sexual assault, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of causing a child to watch a sexual act and two of indecent assault.

He was cleared of one charge of sexual assault by the jury and of another by direction of Judge Charles Macdonald QC. He was convicted of the remaining 11 charges.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the case was about German's violent sexual behaviour towards children.

Michael Riley, prosecuting, said the evidence did not come to the police in any "nice chronological order".

The first girl eventually revealed German had abused her. He started by molesting her and then raped her.

After police interviewed German, more allegations were made by two other girls, Mr Riley said German told one girl he would give her £20 if she ran around naked. She refused.

Mr Riley described German as "violent and controlling". When arrested in February, he denied all the allegations.

German was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on December 7. Judge Macdonald said he would be considering passing an indefinite prison sentence for public protection.

"If there is a determinate term, it will be a very substantial one," he added.