A former police officer who molested and raped a young girl more than 40 years ago has been jailed for nine years.

Kevin Luckhurst was told by a judge that the passage of time was no mitigation.

"You now face custody in middle life because of crimes of your youth, but on the other hand the corrosive effect on the victim has been long and you have escaped justice for much of your life," he said.

Luckhurst, of Flowerhill Way, Istead Rise, started the abuse while living in Faversham when he was just 14 and went on to join Kent Police in an “exemplary” career lasting 30 years until his retirement.

Now 58, the married former dog handler denied seven charges of rape and three of indecent assault.

He was convicted of three offences of rape and two of indecent assault. The jury could
not reach verdicts on the remaining charges.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Luckhurst had told the girl he wanted to play a game before raping her. He told her to keep it a secret.

The victim said in evidence from behind screens: “I didn’t tell my mother or head teacher. I don’t remember anything being said while it was happening. I was so fearful of him.

"You put the victim through a very agonising experience. The jury has vindicated her. Clearly, there is no shame or remorse here. This is extremely sad and a very serious case" - Judge Charles Macdonald QC

“I was told on the first occasion not to say anything to anyone – about it being a secret.”

She said of being raped: “I tried to think of something else and concentrate on that. I didn’t welcome any of these advances.

“I didn’t say anything to get him to stop. I always did what he told me to do.”

The victim said the abuse stopped after he wanted to rape her again and then tried to force her to perform a sex act on him, and she became angry and refused.

“I started shouting at him,” she continued. “He looked at me as if he was shocked. I was really angry. I was crying. I said I would tell somebody if he touched me again. He said he wouldn’t touch me again and I didn’t tell anyone.”

Decades later she reported it to the police.

Bozzie Sheffi, defending, said Luckhurst had an exemplary character in the police and was described by one ex-colleague as “a thoroughly decent man”.

After retirement he worked for the Environment Agency and as a volunteer for the National Trust.

Told that Luckhurst was thoroughly ashamed to be before the court, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said: “You say ashamed. You are not suggesting he is remorseful are you, for putting the complainant through this?”

Miss Sheffi replied that she could not “go behind the jury’s verdicts” and would say no
more.

Luckhurst’s name will appear on the sex offender register indefinitely and he will be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Judge Macdonald told Luckhurst: “These were opportunistic offences. On any view, the matters were aggravated by steps to prevent reporting.

“I give positive character such weight as I can, but these offences must be punished to deter others.

“You put the victim through a very agonising experience.

“The jury has vindicated her. Clearly, there is no shame or remorse here. This is extremely sad and a very serious case.

“The time has come for you to face up to what you did all those years ago.”

A photo of the defendant was requested from Kent Police. The force refused to release one because of the nature of the offences and the fact Luckhurst was a minor when they were committed.