A judge criticised a man after he was cleared of nine charges of rape and two other serious sex offences.

Recorder Cairns Nelson QC made the comments in the absence of Nicholas Johnson, who had refused to leave prison to hear the verdicts.

Granting a restraining order, he said: "I have watched the defendant for four days and I am completely sure he is a highly unstable, controlling man.

"I have serious doubts about his mental state. I permitted him to address me.

"We had only what can be called a tirade yesterday. He declined to come to court his morning.

"I am satisfied he breached his bail in April this year. This is a volatile man who is not in the right state of mind at the moment. That may change."

Mr Johnson, 40, denied the rape charges, as well as causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The offences were alleged to have been committed on a young girl while he was living in the Medway area.

Prosecutor Sarah Ellis told Maidstone Crown Court Mr Johnson, of no fixed address, declined to be interviewed after his arrest.

Patrick Dennis, defending, said: "He has always claimed the allegations are completely false."

The jury of seven men and five women returned not guilty verdicts on all charges.