A former Hare Krishna worshipper has been branded a "sex tyrant" and jailed for 18 years for a series of vile sex assaults.

Pervert Sean Keen spent 10 years in a temple learning to be celibate, but after leaving the movement, turned predator and was convicted of three sex attacks and four cruelty charges.

The sex-starved 50-year-old even wrote a letter of apology to his victims – in defiance of a court order.

But a judge told him: "It was a hollow letter. You have shown no real remorse or insight into what you put your victims through or the anguish and long-term psychological damage you have made them suffer.

Judge Adele Williams added: "You were obsessed with sex and became a tyrant."

"Just what the victims in this case went through over a period of time is unthinkable..." - Detective Constable Michael Seddon

She had heard how two of his victims had thought about taking their lives because of the "mental torture" he subjected them to.

Keen, of London Road Estate, Canterbury, had arrived in the dock at Canterbury Crown Court in a bright red jumper.

He put his hands together as if in prayer and bowed to two friends in the public gallery.

But the jury heard the other side of the horrible Hari Krishna fanatic, including carrying out sex acts involving a dog, giving a child a "love bite" and raping a woman repeatedly.

The Krishna religion - known officially as International Society For Krishna Consciousness - forbids sex unless it is to create children and bans drinking alcohol.

But prosecutor Christopher May told how many of the attacks happened when Keen had been drinking.

Many of the incidents happened many years ago in Ashford and one of his victims claimed he had used her "like his toy", treating her "as if she were a prostitute for his pleasure".

Investigating officer Detective Constable Michael Seddon said: "Just what the victims in this case went through over a period of time is unthinkable and the fact Keen refused to admit his guilt at the earliest opportunity meant they had to go through it all again in a trial.

"On behalf of Kent Police, I would like to praise those victims for showing and displaying a great deal of courage in reporting truly terrible and frightening experiences of their lives.

"I am pleased the overwhelming wealth of evidence we were able to provide was enough to convince a jury that Keen was guilty of these heinous crimes.

"I hope this gives confidence to any victim of this type of crime that we take it incredibly seriously, offer support and use all powers available to us to ensure those responsible receive justice for their abhorrent actions."

Stories you might have missed

Mum shocked after woman 'tries to walk away with girl'

Second cat killed by wild dogs

Body found in woodland

Teen with Dexter fixation jailed for schoolgirl's murder