A “depraved” paedophile has been locked up after years of his child sex offending were uncovered.

Thomas Hawkwood, 69, was responsible for the rape and indecent assault of a child dating back to the 1990s.

He was arrested in November 2020 as part of an investigation by the Medway Vulnerability Investigation Team but denied any wrong doing.

Hawkwood, of Wrotham Road, Gravesend, was later charged with inciting a child into sexual activity, rape and indecent assault.

A trial took place at Woolwich Crown Court earlier this month where it was heard he had harassed his victim with threats of violence and abused them.

He was found guilty by a jury on eight charges.

On Monday he was sentenced to 14 years in prison and put on the sex offenders register.

‘He terrorised a vulnerable child with threats of violence...’

Luke Grimmett, who led the case against the sex offender, said: “Hawkwood is a depraved and intimidating individual who has shown no remorse for his appalling actions. He terrorised a vulnerable child with threats of violence and subjected them to the most abhorrent abuse.

“Offenders like Hawkwood wreak incalculable damage upon their victims and it is sometimes extremely hard for them to come forward and report what they have experienced to the police.

“In this case, the victim has thankfully found tremendous courage to provide evidence and ensure Hawkwood has now faced justice.

“I do hope this sentence reassures the public that we will do everything we can to put offenders behind bars and support survivors as much as we can.

“It is never too late to report any sexual offence, you will be supported by specially trained officers throughout the process, and we always treat any information with the utmost confidence and sensitivity.”