A pensioner who molested a teenager while giving her a back massage claimed she had "misinterpreted" his actions.

Canterbury Crown Court heard James Joiner, 68, from Herne Bay, groped the horrified victim's breasts under her bra and rubbed her buttocks with baby oil.

Her desperate attempts to stop him by directing him to other non-intimate parts of her body such as her ankle and arm were ignored and the ordeal only came to an end when he simply uttered: "All right."

The grandfather was later confronted by the girl's parent but he claimed he had "acted innocently and she had misinterpreted the massage”, said prosecutor Daniel Stevenson."

Joiner, of Douglas Road, maintained his innocence at trial but was unanimously convicted by a jury of three sexual offences.

At his sentencing hearing last week Judge Catherine Brown condemned his lack of remorse and insight, saying his only concern had been for himself and his family.

She did however praise his victim who, despite suffering severe psychological harm, had bravely returned to court to read out her impact statement as Joiner looked on.

She described how the pervert had taken advantage of her naivety to leave her feeling "confused, weak and afraid".

"He put my life on hold and it was one filled with anger and distress. I will never be able to fully describe the pain and hurt," she said.

"But I value my strength for having spoken up and my courage as, if I hadn't, this might have happened to someone else.

"I am not that girl anymore, I am not a victim anymore. I have overcome this… and look forward to a brighter future."

The court heard the conviction had been "devastating" for Joiner, who was described as "a man inclined to follow the rules".

But on jailing him for three years, Judge Brown said his offending had been driven by his own desire for sexual gratification.

"You continue to deny that you committed these offences and you have shown no remorse. You do not show any insight into the impact of your conduct on your victim. The only concern that you have shown is for yourself and your family," she told the dad-of-two.

"I pay tribute to the courage of your victim who has had the fortitude to see this case through. Without her bravery in telling the police what happened and her perseverance in going through the court process, justice would not have been done.

"I can only hope that, now this case is over, she is able to put what you did to her behind her and to fully enjoy her life.

"As for you, you need to face up to what you have done and to take advantage of any programmes that are offered to you to address the reasons why you committed these offences against this girl."

On his release, Joiner will be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will also be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.