A MAN who groomed a girl for sex fled the country shortly before a jury convicted him and he was jailed for 10 years.

Andrew Alderman was seen on a scanning device at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Folkestone at 5.30am on the day he was due to await the verdict.

Alderman, of Lavender Hill, Tonbridge, denied rape and indecent assault. He is thought to have headed for Spain as he is fluent in the language there.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the 47-year-old groomed the girl over a number of years.

Judge Timothy Nash said it was an appalling loss of self-control when Alderman raped the girl after she had too much to drink.

Rose Burns, defending, said as Alderman had failed to attend court, she could say very little.

She said: "He is obviously remorseful and feels bad about it, otherwise he would not have done what he has done and gone off."

Judge Nash said he had to impose a substantial sentence and would increase it because of aggravating features.