A former antique shop owner, who made a teenager pregnant after raping her, has been jailed.

David Jarman – who is now 76-years-old - denied carrying out the attack in Chatham more than 30 years ago.

But a jury at Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty of the attack which led to the pregnancy.

Jarman, who now lives in Littlehampton, West Sussex, was led away on crutches after the court heard he now suffered mobility problems and is taking tablets for prostate cancer.

The jury heard how Jarman, of Mountbatten Court, was arrested by police but denied raping the young woman or being the father to the child.

Prosecutor Paul Valder told the jury that DNA samples were sent away for forensic analysis and scientists concluded he was the father.

Sentencing Jarman for nine-and-a-half years, Judge Stephen Thomas said he had attacked a victim who had been “particularly vulnerable” and the rape had led to a pregnancy.

'It took a tremendous amount of courage for them to come forward, I am pleased that we have secured justice,' Det Con Karen Caulfield

He will also be added to the Sexual Offenders Register for the rest of his life.

Police started investigating after the incident was reported to the force in March 2017.

Investingating officer Det Con Karen Caulfield described Jarman's acts as "despicable" which had led to "long term emotional and physical effects on the victim".

She added: "It took a tremendous amount of courage for them to come forward, I am pleased that we have secured justice for them.

"Incidences of non-recent sexual abuse often come down to one person’s word against another’s and potential witnesses move on, memories may fade and forensic opportunity is rare.

"We will always investigate allegations of sexual abuse thoroughly and proportionately, whether the alleged crimes took place recently or historically."

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