A child rapist left his victim so psychologically damaged she told a court she wished he had murdered her.

A judge told 78-year-old Roger Tester, of Cowgate Hill, Dover, that he had subjected the youngster to "extreme degradation and humiliation" after grooming her with treats and plying her with alcohol and even drugs such as heroin.

So depraved was his behaviour that one offence involved a dog and was "about as degrading as it gets", jurors at Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Now the pensioner, previously convicted of molesting a four-year-old in the 1970s, has been imprisoned for 22 years.

Tester, who suffers from a variety of health conditions including dementia and COPD and uses a walking frame, had to be helped from his seat at the side of the court to the dock and down to the cells to begin his lengthy sentence.

He had denied 19 sexual offences and was convicted unanimously on 16 of them, with a further two by majority verdicts of 11 to one.

After the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the final charge, the prosecution said a retrial would not be sought and offered no evidence.

The victim sat crying in the public gallery as she watched her attacker being jailed.

The court heard she had reported the abuse as long ago as 1986 but although it was recorded on police files Tester was not charged.

Years later she attended the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse - otherwise known as the Truth Project - being held in London and again voiced her ordeal, this time to a counsellor. The claims were then investigated and resulted in his successful prosecution.

The abuse occurred in various locations, including Tester's work van, and he would sometimes put a tea towel over her head.

At the start of his trial, prosecutor Christopher May described how the victim had first tried to bring her abuser to justice almost 40 years ago.

"This was the most extreme degradation which shows the breathtaking level of your depraved behaviour...”

"As long ago as 1986 she tried to report what had been going on and there was, within police records, a record of her making a complaint that Roger Tester assaulted her on a number of occasions, administered drugs to her and that he raped her," said Mr May.

"Back then, very different standards were applied to bringing charges and he was not prosecuted. It is important to know that she was someone who did tell police what had been going on nearer the time and this is not something she has come out with years or decades later.

"She attended the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse running in London, spoke to people there and her disclosure was forwarded to police which has led to this prosecution at this court."

Tester was eventually arrested in December 2019 and denied the allegations, branding the victim "a liar", added the prosecutor.

The jury was told about his previous conviction in 1977, offending said to be "extremely similar" but for which he had pleaded guilty.

Jailing Tester on Thursday, Judge Simon Taylor KC said he accepted his poor health would make prison more "onerous". But he told the pensioner, assisted during proceedings by an intermediary, he had abused his victim "at every opportunity".

Of the offence involving a dog, the judge said: "This was the most extreme degradation which shows the breathtaking level of your depraved behaviour towards this child.

"The victim had her childhood robbed, she had her life robbed from her and her ability to enjoy (life) and thrive. She still suffers panic attacks and is still afraid of the dark.

"She still thinks she is no one and wishes you had murdered her because the child died over and over again.

"This was a campaign that pervaded her childhood. The testimony of the complainant, combined with her victim personal statement and the manner in which she delivered it, proves the clearest evidence of extreme psychological harm.

"When you gave her food and treats, you said it was 'Your secret'....You used alcohol and drugs to facilitate the offence. It was part of the grooming process and designed to disinhibit her, make her feel worthless and guilty so you could get away with abusing her."

Judge Taylor excused the jurors from future service for 10 years and expressed his hope that the verdicts and sentencing would bring "some closure" for the victim.

When released, Tester will have an extra year added to his licence period and be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements.