The victim of the 2012 Olympic Torch pervert Graham Cooper has revealed how he paid her £1,000 a month “hush money” .

The woman – who is now a mother – claimed she had tried to report the attacks many years ago but was told it was too late to charge the butcher.

It was only when she saw in a newspaper that the churchgoing amateur photographer had been chosen to carry the torch, from Hamstreet to Ashford, that she contacted police again.

She told the jury at his trial at Canterbury Crown Court that, many years ago, she had contacted Cooper, who is now 69, and threatened to tell about the sex attacks.

She told the jury: “I threatened him. I threatened that I would tell his wife.

“He said to me: ‘What can I do to stop you doing that?’ I don’t know why I suggested it but I said £1,000 a month for me to keep quiet. He said: ‘OK, then’.

“He then put money into my bank account.”

Cooper, a former Aldington butcher, now of Church Road, New Romney, pleaded guilty to three child sex charges and was convicted of a fourth by a jury.

He was jailed for three years last week.

Judge Adele Williams told him: “When your victim gave evidence at your trial, it was evident to everyone that your sexual abuse of her has had a profound and long-lasting effect upon her.

“It has damaged her life. It has also damaged her ability to form relationships with men because she cannot trust them.”

The victim revealed the trauma that has haunted her life, struggling with relationships and problems at school.

She said: “I think I just shut down. I left school with not very much education.”

But later she returned to school and gained qualifications and then received counselling for her problems.

She was then prescribed anti-depressants and faced bouts when she was not able to cope.

She revealed that her trauma also affected her relationships with men, saying: “As soon as it got serious I used to walk away.

“Although I had a boyfriend I never had sex until I was 19 because when it got round to that (sex), I would just leave because I never trusted anybody.”

Cooper’s victim had tried to bring charges some years ago but was told it was too late for him to be questioned about his disgusting attacks.

But when she saw that he had been chosen to take part in a leg of the historic Olympic torch relay she reported the abuse to police again – and this time charges were brought.

Cooper claimed in his evidence that he was approached by his victim, who had threatened to expose his vile secret.

He said: “I asked her what she wanted and she said: ‘Money’. I estimate that I paid £6,000 to £7,000 over the period.

“I did that because she was threatening to tell somebody what had happened in the past. I had a family business, I was respected over a large area.“

The judge said: “She had tried to complain to the police years ago. That was not pursued.

“Child sexual abuse is a very considerable evil – those who engage in it and who are brought to justice, even many years later, can expect immediate custody” - Judge Adele Williams

"But when she saw in the Press that you had been chosen as an Olympic torch bearer in 2012 because of your good works and good standing in the community ... she was rightly incensed and went to the police again.”

Judge Williams added that Cooper had tried to minimise the impact of his vile behaviour, even denying to a probation officer that he had been “sexually aroused” by his attacks on the child.

She said: “That displays a total lack of insight and a lack of true remorse for your behaviour and you tried in your evidence to the jury and in your probation interview to blame your victim.

“The probation officer rightly concludes that you hold distorted and perverted views.

“Child sexual abuse is a very considerable evil – those who engage in it and who are brought to justice, even many years later, can expect immediate custody.”