A "drifter" who sexually abused a young girl while living in Kent confessed to still having paedophile tendencies almost four decades later.

John Morony, described as living a transient lifestyle and in communes with those "aligned to his political and social beliefs", owned up to his long-standing deviance after his victim reported him to police in 2019.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the now 71-year-old had been confronted at the time of the attack in Broadstairs in the mid-1980s but fled, leaving the youngster so frightened and confused that severe psychological harm continued into adulthood.

And in a report referred to at his sentencing hearing on Wednesday, the pensioner was deemed to still present a high risk of serious harm to children having been "candid" in interview about his criminal sexual interest.

Morony, who has a previous conviction for criminal damage at a Conservative Party office, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was jailed after a judge told him he had "ruined the child's life".

The court heard he was "disinhibited by alcohol" when he targeted the vulnerable girl, who later described her harrowing ordeal.

"The child was left confused and knew it was wrong but didn't know how to articulate it or have the courage to speak out," said prosecutor Paul Valder.

In an impact statement made to police, the victim detailed how the assault had had "devastating and catastrophic" consequences in all aspects of her life since.

She wrote of feeling "a weight and sadness" on her shoulders and of developing anxiety to such an extent she struggled at school, work and socially.

She also described having low body image, difficulties with relationships, and becoming isolated.

By the time the attack was finally reported to police, she said: "I wasn't coping and felt my life was shutting down."

The court heard although Morony, of Wilbert Lane, in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, confessed to still having his warped predilections, they were said to have "lessened" over time into "fleeting thoughts".

It was also said on his behalf by defence barrister Charlotte Surley that he should be "commended for being candid" and revealing such information.

Describing Morony as bisexual, she said: "He accepts he submitted to his impulses on one occasion only, and after that exerted self-control and has simply never offended again."

Ms Surley added that he had himself suffered "a number of difficulties" in life, including being brought up believing his father had died from a brain tumour, only to discover he had committed suicide after "being found out" in respect of sexual abuse allegations himself.

Jailing Morony for two years and nine months, Judge Simon Taylor KC said the "most persuasive" piece of mitigation was his "candour" in his pre-sentence report as it indicated remorse and a desire to change.

But he added he did not feel that those "expressed urges would go away any time soon".

"In my view, when one looks at the victim personal statement, drafted nearly four decades later, one can see this was severe psychological harm," the judge told Morony.

"On one view, you ruined their life. The victim describes the devastating impact and becoming utterly miserable inside. This is indicative of the enduring impact of your abuse."

On his release, Morony will be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order.