A former chairman of Sittingbourne Christmas Lights Association who is serving life for horrific child sex abuse could be facing more time behind bars after being convicted of further offences.

James Mitchell was handed a minimum term of 14 years in October 2012 for a catalogue of offences.

Now, the 61-year-old, formerly of Invicta Road, Sheerness, has been found guilty of repeatedly raping a young boy.

He claimed in his defence that his victim accused him of the attacks in an attempt to win compensation.

But a jury convicted him on Monday of four more rape offences dating back to 2006.

The victim told in a police interview in April 2015 how Mitchell forced himself on him and he was too shocked to fight him off.

“He just wouldn’t stop,” he said. “I tried and tried to get him off me but he just wouldn’t move. There was nothing I could do.”

Mitchell denied eight charges of rape. He was cleared by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday of four of the offences.

Two guilty verdicts were unanimous and two by a majority of 10 to two.

The abuse was reported by the victim three years after Mitchell was jailed for 26 offences - three of rape, eight of indecent assault, three of sexual activity with a child, one of gross indecency and 11 other serious sexual offences.

They were committed by Mitchell from the age of 16 or 17 and spanned almost 40 years.

The latest victim told of trying to continue with his life but being unable to forget his ordeal.

“He would force me to do it,” he said. I was in shock. I didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t really understand what he had done to me until a couple of years ago.

“Trying to cope with that was getting more and more difficult. I’m trying to forget about it and move on with my life but there’s always something that will bring the memories back and I just can’t cope.

“It makes me feel sick, feel ill. It’s horrible that someone would do that to children. He would put my face into a cushion or pillow and force me to do stuff.

“It makes me feel sick, feel ill. It’s horrible that someone would do that to children" - Mitchell's victim

“He would just carry on. He didn’t care how much pain I was in. He would just do it. He didn’t care that I didn’t want it to happen and was upset. He would just continue.”

Mitchell will be sentenced on October 10.

Describing it as a distressing case, Judge Philip St John-Stevens said he would have to decide whether the present sentence should be extended.

“I have to look at that in light of the overall sentence,” he added. “I have to look at future risks.”

Mitchell was at HMP Albany on the Isle of Wight, but held at HMP Elmley in Sheppey during his trial.

The Sittingbourne Christmas Lights Association organises the installation of festive lights in the town’s High Street.

Run by volunteers, Mitchell joined in February 2008. He was appointed chairman in 2010 but his last involvement was in January 2011.