A 68-YEAR-OLD Painswick man who had a history of sexually assaulting young girls has been jailed for abusing a 10-year-old in her bedroom.

Michael Johnson of Ashwell House, Painswick, pleaded guilty to sexually touching the 10-year-old on September 9, 2014.

Johnson, who had sexually assaulted young girls from 1969 until 1987, was jailed for three years and three months at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday.

He was also ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

Prosecuting barrister Philip Warren said: “The defendant paid a visit to where the girl lived on September 9 and asked if he could go upstairs and say goodnight to her.

“Whilst in her bedroom he sexually assaulted her. She told him to stop but he carried on and then he told the little girl not to tell anybody and not to tell her mum.

“But she told her mother that night while the defendant was still there and it was reported to the police.

“In police interview he made a prepared statement which read ‘This did not happen. I went to see the girl and she was watching TV. I covered her up with a duvet and kissed her goodnight.’

“But the defendant eventually admitted that it had happened.

“He has previous convictions for sex offences. In 1969 he indecently assaulted a nine-year-old girl.

“In 1970 he indecently assaulted a four-year-old girl for which he was sent to jail.

“In 1978 he indecently assaulted a five-year-old girl for which he was again jailed.

“In 1986 he had unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 15 and in 1987 he indecently assaulted a young girl.”

Defending lawyer Steve Young said: “His previous convictions were a long time ago. He is not in the best of health and suffers from depression.

“Just before this offence he made a serious suicide attempt but he feels ashamed at what he has done.”

His Honour Judge Jamie Tabor QC said: “This is the worst breach of trust between an adult and a child.

“Such a sexual assault badly affects a child’s trust and confidence and makes them withdrawn, which has happened in this case.

“You committed sexual offences on many occasions in the past but you have kept out of trouble for a very long time.

“It is unforgivable that you succumbed to temptation after resisting it for such a long time,”