by Keith Hunt

A Pervert who had under-age sex with a teenage girl has been jailed for four years.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how when Glyn Thomas started having intercourse with the 14-year-old, he told her not to tell anyone.

Nina Ellin, prosecuting, said the 43-year-old had sex with the victim repeatedly and never used contraception.

Thomas called her his princess and told her he loved her.

Miss Ellin said matters came to a head when a neighbour walked into Thomas’s flat and caught him in bed with the girl.

Thomas told the man: "I know what I have done is wrong. I don’t know what I was doing."

The prosecutor said the girl kept changing her mind about whether she would be interviewed by police.

Thomas, meanwhile, took her to London.

When contacted by officers, Thomas told the girl he was going to have to claim he thought she was 16.

Thomas, of Ypres Drive, Kemsley, admitted three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

He was sentenced following a hearing on July 8.

In addition to the jail term, Thomas has been given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

He must also complete a sex offender treatment program while in prison.

Judge Jeremy Carey told him: "The victim has been substantially affected by these offences; she is a vulnerable young girl with her own problems and difficulties.

"Although you are attempting to present that you are remorseful, I am doubtful of this."

Investigating officer Det Con John Milham said: "Glyn Thomas deliberately set out to groom this very vulnerable child for the sole purpose of sexually abusing her.

"I would like to pay tribute to the child victim in this case who was able to find the courage to provide police with sufficient evidence to convict him."