A former Sunday Telegraph journalist has been jailed for seven years for raping a woman.

Ben Leapman, 44, formerly of Eynsford, caused his victim "significant and substantial psychological harm and significant and substantial pain" over a period of five months, Judge Martin Joy told Maidstone Crown Court today.

On July 11 at the same court, Leapman was convicted of one count of rape, but acquitted of two others.

Nevertheless what Judge Joy called "multiple" instances of rape were committed between July 1, and November 28, 2012.

Wearing a dark grey suit, Leapman, who was instrumental in exposing the MPs' expenses scandal while deputy news editor at the Sunday Telegraph, sat frowning and concentrating intently on proceedings throughout today's hearing.

Sentencing him, Judge Joy said: "The fact is that you caused your victim considerable distress, psychological harm and pain and loss of her own dignity, her self worth and her self-esteem.

"She described in her victim statement feeling useless and no good.

"It's quite clear that there was degradation and humiliation of her by you.

"You are a person of previous good character, a distinguished man in your profession, but behind closed doors you were behaving in this way."

The original nine-day trial of Cambridge-educated Leapman came after he was given a suspended sentence for having extreme pornographic material on his laptop.

Police raided his home on November 26, 2012, after which he resigned from his job and his marriage broke down.

Mitigating, Ian Bourne QC said: "Mr Leapman is now 44 years of age and hasn't seen his children since November 2012 and that has created an enormous hardship for him and his parents as well, who have not been able to see their grandchildren either.

"He has been in custody since July so he's now become familiar with what the prison regime involves.

"He doesn't accept the jury's single verdict on the third count of rape."

Leapman will serve one half of his sentence before being released on licence.

Judge Joy also imposed an indefinite sexual offences amendment order binding Leapman not to "reside with any person without first having disclosed the relevant previous conviction for rape."