A Thanet child sex offdender is now behind bars for offences dating back to the 1970s.

William Wilson, 61, and formerly of Westbrook Avenue in Margate, subjected his victims to “something akin to a campaign of rapes” in the Thanet area between 1976 and 1986.

He pleaded not guilty but was convicted by the jury and was sentenced to 22 years at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard that the offences were committed against two girls, aged under 16 at the time.

The seven charges consisted of four counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and a sexual assault.

The husband of one of his victims watched Wilson being jailed for the appalling attacks.

She died a few years ago, but not before giving her account of her ordeal to police officers investigating the historic offences.

That was recorded on CCTV and played to the jury at Canterbury Crown Court who found Wilson guilty.

After the hearing, the husband told KentOnline: “It has been hard coming through this ordeal.I just wish my sweet wife was here to see justice being done.

“I was so proud of her when she had the courage to speak up and tell police what happened.

"And I can’t pretend I didn’t think that I’d like just five minutes alone with him!

“But the investigating officer DC Sue Kingsnorth helped me trust in the judicial system..and she was right. Everything has been traumatic over the past few years but he has now got the right sentence.”

Judge James O’Mahony told Wilson who sat impassively in the dock that he had committed “horrible offences, something akin to a campaign of rapes.”

Another of his victims sat just a few feet away from her attacker as the judge told her: “I won’t forget this trial for a very long time!”

He had heard how the attacks in the 1970’s had blighted the lives of the victims who had suffered serious psychological harm after the rapist warned them NOT to report the attacks.

The jury heard how he told them that as they were children they would not be believed – and so they kept their silence for decades until it was eventually revealed to a trauma counseller.

But the victims eventually spoke up and were believed by the jury who convicted Wilson on all but two offences.

The judge told him: “You threatened your victims of the consequences if they told anyone...and that ensured their silence.”

He added that no-one will ever be sure if the suffering in silence had contributed to one of the victim’s early death.

“You threatened your victims of the consequences if they told anyone...and that ensured their silence" - Judge James O'Mahony

The husband added: “It was hard watching my wife on film at the trial and I did cry. I have cried again today but this time it was knowing that justice has been done at last. It is just a shame my wife isn’t here to see it.

“I’d like to thank DC Kingsnorth and her team, who urged me to put my trust in the investigation, for all their support and help.”

Detective Constable Susan Kingsnorth said: "The victims of this case have lived the majority of their lives deeply impacted by Wilson’s perverse and predatory offending.

"He found himself in a position where he had a significant amount of control of the victims and exploited them for his own desires.

"I welcome the sentence that Wilson has been handed and hope that this may encourage other victims of non-recent abuse to come forward so that we can support them and bring the offenders to justice."

An NSPCC spokesman added: "Wilson used fear and intimidation to try and stop his victims from coming forward and unveiling him for what he truly is – a dangerous sexual predator.

"But it is thanks to their bravery in finally speaking out about their horrific experiences that Wilson is now behind bars. Sadly, one of his victims did not live to see justice prevail and we hope today’s sentence brings her family some form of comfort."