A man who tried to murder a teenage girl by strangling her with a rope has been jailed for 15 years at Maidstone Crown Court.

Darren Ford, 43, was convicted of attempted murder yesterday after being found guilty by a jury.

Ford, of Oaks Dene, Walderslade, was arrested by police in June last year after the tried to throttle the schoolgirl.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was left with her eyes bulging, her face blue and pinpoint bleeding in the whites of her eyes.

The father-of-three had denied the charges and claimed he found her with a rope tied around her neck.

But after being admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital, medical staff became suspicious and alerted police.

"The victim endured a horrendous experience. My thoughts are with her and her family as she attempts to rebuild her life..." - DS Ed Scott

During his trial, Ford told the jury he had no recollection of the attack, and claimed he had the rope because he intended to take his own life.

Ford said he took the rope and did not know what happened next.

"I remember standing over the girl with the rope round her neck," he said. 2My hands were on each end of the rope and I was facing her. She was blue."

Prosecutor Richard Scott told the jury that the Royal Mail and Asda worker had a "clear and settled intention" to kill at the time, but as that intention passed he then "constructed a false account of events".

His victim, who spent two days in hospital recovering after the attack, told police how she was kicking her legs as she felt the rope tighten around her neck.

After the sentencing, investigating officer DS Ed Scott of Kent Police's public protection unit, said: "This was a complex case.

"I would like to pay tribute to the victim, who endured a horrendous experience.

"Despite her trauma and physical injuries, she has made a significant recovery and bravely worked with detectives and medical staff to produce vital evidence that led to Ford’s arrest.

"My thoughts are with her and her family as she attempts to rebuild her life."

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