A 78-year-old man who sexually abused a young boy in St Osyth in Essex has been jailed for six years.

Alan Norman, of Portreath Place, Chelmsford, assaulted the boy repeatedly over a three year period between 2002 and 2004.

The victim came forward in January 2016 to report the abuse to police.

Norman was arrested on April 10, 2016, and charged on October 6 with four counts of indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 14.

On Friday, July 28, he was convicted of all charges at Chelmsford Crown Court and jailed for six years.

Detective Sergeant Dan Jeffries said: “Alan Norman preyed on a young boy – befriending him, gaining his trust, and then abusing him.

“These were horrible crimes committed by someone who violated the trust that was put in them.

“I want to praise the courage of the victim in coming forward to report this to us and their bravery throughout the investigation.

“I hope the fact that Norman is now behind bars will come as some solace.”