A paedophile who sexually abused a girl over an eight-year period whilst living in Swanley and Dartford has been jailed.

Dean Tarrant, 47, was sentenced to four years behind bars at Maidstone Crown Court today (November 26), after being found guilty of two counts of gross indecency.

His crimes were committed in the 80s, when Tarrant was living in Northview Road, Swanley, and then Hawley Road, Dartford.

Tarrant, who now lives in Brentwood, Essex, was a child himself when the offences began – but continued to abuse the girl when he became an adult.

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Investigating officer DC Fleur Hardie said: "Despite being only a boy himself when his offending began, Dean Tarrant should still have known what he was doing was wrong.

"The fact he continued to abuse the girl into adulthood demonstrates his lack of remorse or regret for his actions.

"I would like to pay tribute to the victim in this case who showed great courage in speaking out about the terrible crimes she had been put through over a period of about eight years.

"Kent Police takes all reports of historic sexual abuse seriously and I would like to assure victims their reports will be thoroughly investigated no matter the length of time that has passed since the incident occurred."