A cruel paedophile who raped one girl when she was very young and abused and beat another has been jailed for 10 years.

Clifford Rea escaped justice for decades but finally confessed his sick lust for children when being treated for depression in 2014.

The 71-year-old former soldier, of Penshurst Road, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells, told doctors and other professionals: “I am scared what people think about me. I have overstepped the mark.

“Young ladies aren’t safe where I am - from babies to two-years-old, to grown ups. This is because I sexually assault them.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard he went on to reveal details of abuse and added: “I want to face up to what I have done.”

In July, Rea, a handyman and gardener, admitted five offences of rape and one of indecent assault of one victim and two of indecent assault of the other victim.

His lawyer Crispian Cartwright said of the offences when the married father appeared for sentence: “It is like gazing at an open wound. It is distressing for everyone.”

The abuse stretched back to 1961 and continued for some time. The victim Rea raped told police she could still feel the pain now.

Prosecutor Deborah Charles said Rea told the girl it was “our secret” after raping her. “She didn’t know what was going on at her tender age,” she said.

He raped the girl on one occasion when he was home on leave from the Army. He also made her perform a sex act on him.

"Your victims have lived with these crimes for many years and they (the crimes) were deeply abhorrent, cold and calculated" - Judge St John-Stevens

After Rea’s confessions at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, the other victim told of sexual assaults and violence at his hands.

“She described beatings with objects - canes, slippers and his belt,” said Miss Charles. “They caused bruises.”

Rea made threats to stop her telling anybody, so she remained silent.

“Given her age, she thought this behaviour was normal,” said Miss Charles. “It was only when she was older it dawned on her this was wholly inappropriate.

“She told police he showed her his pornography collection.”

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said during sentencing Rea’s crimes started in the early 60s and continued into the early 80s and one of his victims was as under five when she was raped by Rea.

Judge St John-Stevens said: “You told one victim it was your little secret to cover up what was happening.

“These sexual offences happened over a significant period of time.

“You made certain revelations to doctors and show remorse for what’s happened in the past.

“I sentence you to a term of imprisonment as there can be no other option because of the seriousness of the offences.

“Your victims have lived with these crimes for many years and they (the crimes) were deeply abhorrent, cold and calculated.

“You manipulated your victims to maintaining their silence, but they are now set free from this secret and have had the courage to support this prosecution.”

Rea was jailed for 10 years for the rape offences and three years four months for the indecent assaults, but both sentences will run concurrently.

Judge St John-Stevens also placed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) on Rea banning him from having contact with young women under the age of 16.

The order lasts until further notice.

After sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Naomi Moore described the case as "extremely distressing".

She continued: "I would like to commend the victims in their bravery.

"Kent Police will always take reports of sexual crime seriously, no matter how historic, and I would encourage anyone who may have been subject to such behaviour to get in touch with us and to feel confident that any reports will be taken seriously and dealt with in a sensitive manner."