A paedophile locked up for seven years was a Ukip aide in South Thanet during the general and local council elections, it has been revealed.

Aaron Knight, 30, previously from Ramsgate, was campaigning for Nigel Farage's party in 2014 at the same time he was committing sex crimes against a young boy.

He warned the child that the boy's mother would tell him off if he were to tell anyone "their secret".

Knight systematically groomed his young victim between September 2013 and October 2014.

Ukip spokesman Gawain Towler said: "He worked for four months on the council campaign in South Thanet in 2014.

"He was a campaigner for the borough and frankly he was lazy and let go.

"I am delighted justice has been done and thank God he has been put behind bars.

"This was an appalling thing for the family to go through and I am glad he was found guilty of this heinous crime.

"We have absolute support and horror for the family who've gone through this."

After admitting two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual assault on a child under 13, unemployed Knight was jailed for a total of seven years at Canterbury Crown Court on May 23.

He was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order after admitting the offences put to him.

Investigating officer PC David Greig said: "Knight is a dangerous predatory paedophile who wormed his way into the trust of others before exploiting an innocent child for his own sexual gratification."