A 20-year-old rapist has been convicted of sexually abusing two girls, starting when he was just 10.

David Murphy was "aggressive and violent" when assaulting one of the victims.

He eventually raped her, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Danny Moore said Murphy, of Le Temple Road, Paddock Wood, would take every opportunity to sexually assault the girls and rape one of them.

His actions demonstrated that he had issues concerning his sexual behaviour.

Murphy threatened one of the girls that if she told anybody about the abuse, the same would happen to one of her relatives.

"He was violent on occasion, unpredictable and seemingly a powerful influence on her," said Mr Moore.

"She was a child and didn't know what to do. She didn’t know what to say or how to react" - Prosecutor Danny Moore

Murphy would force her to perform a sex act on him and was "really violent and aggressive".

He would pinch her, leaving marks.

"She was a child and didn’t know what to do," said Mr Moore.

"She didn’t know what to say or how to react."

After raping her, he made more threats about what would happen if she reported it.

He would strike her chest and bite her lips.

Feeling trapped and isolated, it led to the girl self-harming and even considering suicide.

The girl tried to stop Murphy raping her by saying she was too young for sex, but he still continued.

"She said she would never forget what happened because she was in so much pain and in such a dark place," said Mr Moore.

Murphy also touched the other girl inappropriately.

It was systematic and happened many times.

One of the girls revealed the abuse after a sex education class at school which covered rape.

"It resonated with her," said Mr Moore.

Murphy was convicted of four charges of rape, five of sexual assault and two of assault by penetration.

He was acquitted of one charge of rape and one of sexual assault. He denied all of those charges but admitted one charge of rape and one of sexual assault.

Murphy was granted bail until sentence on August 22.