A STROUD man has been jailed for sex offences against a young boy he was supposed to be caring for.

Thomas Birtley, 55, from Stroud, was convicted after trial of five counts of historic sexual assaults against the child, which took place nearly 40 years ago, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Birtley, who himself was aged around 16 to 18 at the time of the offences, used to babysit for the victim, who was eight-years-old at the time.

The offences took place in the victim's family home in Speke.

Birtley was jailed for six-and-a-half years for the offences.