THE despicable acts carried out by serial rapist Antoni Imiela may have destroyed a young Ashford girl's life forever, says a senior police officer.

Det Supt Colin Murray has labelled Imiela as one of Britain’s most dangerous criminals - a man who got kicks from inflicting pain and humiliation on his victims through domination and control.

Mr Murray admitted he struggled to see how the ordeal Imiela put his child victims through would not affect them as they grew up.

But he praised the bravery of Imiela’s first victim, a 10-year-old Ashford girl, and described her excitement at hearing her attacker had been arrested.

“I found it very upsetting,” he said. “She dealt with it so bravely. When she was told about the arrest she was just so delighted and pleased.

“She became very upset as the trial neared and was greatly relieved that she didn’t have to come to court.

“I believe she’s done really well and coped really well. But it must have an affect in later life. Somebody cannot experience something like that and forget it.

“This was not just the rape. It was the control, the bullying, the humiliation, of a young girl for his own sexual pleasure. He could have just raped her quickly and ended her ordeal, but he didn’t - he wanted to go on and on and on.

“For a man of that age to attack a 10-year-old girl - what triggers that? It’s beyond comprehension.”

Mr Murray also paid tribute to the child’s parents who were in court for much of the case and came face to face with the man that brutally raped their daughter.

He told the Kentish Express newpaper: “Her father was very, very angry as anybody would be sitting in a court room looking at the man whose raped your daughter.

“If I put myself in his shoes, I’m not sure I could have been there. You’ve just got to imagine what it must be like to sit there and listen to the details. They are both coping remarkably well.”