A paedophile repeatedly attacked his victim 40 years ago - and then accused her of trying to frame him.

Andrew Wilkes 59, denied assaulting the girl in Ramsgate in the early 80s - when she was aged 13 - claiming she since schemed to ruin his life.

But a jury this week rejected Wilkes' lies and unanimously convicted the predator of forcing her to perform 15 serious sexual acts when he was aged 19-22.

Wilkes waved to family and friends from the dock, mouthing the words “I love you” to his partner, after he was handed a 10-year prison sentence on Thursday.

His victim suppressed memories of the attacks with alcohol, later developing an addiction in an attempt to suppress her emotions, a seven-day-trial at Canterbury Crown Court heard.

But after gaining the courage to come forward the woman, who must remain anonymous for legal reasons, reported Wilkes’ systematic abuse.

When Wilkes volunteered for police interview he told officers the allegations “were made up and malicious”.

For years the liar argued the accusations were levelled at him as part of a bitter vendetta and that he was the victim.

Meanwhile, two other alleged victims accused Wilkes of sexual assault totalling 12 further charges, but the jury this week dismissed their claims.

"You have lied throughout this case, to the court, and you have insisted you were the victim, calling her a liar..."

Prosecutor William Saunders told the court Wilkes’ campaign of abuse against his one victim was both planned planned and methodical.

“Having gained trust, it (the grooming) continued, and it continued in secret as well.

“There must have been grooming in the circumstances of these being methodical instances,” he added.

Judge Rupert Lowe urged Wilkes to take responsibility for the attacks that he had vehemently denied.

“You have lied throughout this case, to the court, and you have insisted you were the victim, calling her a liar, advancing a ludicrous reason for her to lie,” he added.

Mitigating, Alastair Fell told the judge his client was of previous good character.

“Given when it (the abuse) started, Mr Wilkes was still a teenager, who at 19-22, was relatively young, is what the defence say.

“You honour, it’s about his background, he is of previous good character and has lived an unblemished life,” he said.

Wilkes, now of Gresham Avenue in Margate, mouthed the words “I love you” to his partner as he was led to the cells.

He was convicted of one count of indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault against a person aged 13-15 years.

Wilkes was cleared of 12 further assault allegations made by two people between the 1970s and 1980s.

Judge Lowe placed Wilkes on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

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