A pervert who caused “huge psychological damage” to a young girl he groomed and sexually abused has been jailed for 12 years.

Under an extended sentence for public protection, Jason Fry will not be considered for parole until he has served two thirds of the sentence and he will be on licence for a further two years.

A judge told him: “What happened between you was deeply abhorrent to ordinary people. She must have regarded you as a monster.”

The 46-year-old, of The Barn, Throwley, Faversham, admitted seven offences of sexual activity, two of indecent assault and two other serious sexual offences.

Prosecutor Charles Evans said the abuse started with Fry kissing the victim and it became more sexual.

“She didn’t like what was happening but was too scared to say no,” he told Maidstone Crown Court.

“She hoped everything would go away. The abuse continued to escalate.”

Fry asked to have sex with her and she felt she had no choice, the court heard.

He warned her not to tell anybody and threatened to kill himself if she did.

“In the context of grooming, she felt she had no choice but to go along with his sexual demands,” said Mr Evans. “She found how controlling he was.”

When the victim started a relationship with another man Fry became angry and tried to interfere. She went to the police when she could not take any more.

When questioned by officers in January, he tried to dismiss the allegations as “absolute rubbish”. He denied everything until he was due to stand trial.

“She is fearful that once he is released from his sentence he will track her down and continue to disrupt her life,” said Mr Evans. “One hopes the sentence will ease those fears.”

“What happened between you was deeply abhorrent to ordinary people. She must have regarded you as a monster” - Judge Martin Joy

Fry, he said, clearly had a fascination with a child which led to wholly inappropriate behaviour.

Michael Haynes, defending, said: “He has accepted his responsibility. He had in his mind this was a consensual relationship. There is no evidence to suggest he is attracted to children in general.”

Fry claimed the sexual activity was with consent “based on mutual sexual attraction”.

But Judge Martin Joy said: “She consented against a background of grooming and controlling and manipulative behaviour. She was a vulnerable girl.”

Fry’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register for life.

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