A BURNHAM pensioner who sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl has been jailed for eight years.

Cyril Jenkins, 67, from Grove Road in Burnham, appeared in Taunton Crown Court via videolink from prison in Exeter to be sentenced by Judge David Ticehurst.

Jenkins pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

Caroline Bolt, prosecuting said: "Jenkins had befriended the family and during the half term holiday the mother was having problems with child care, he agreed to look after the girl.

"But later, the girl's family and Mr Jenkins fell out and the girl made disclosures that he had touched her inappropriately," Miss Bolt said.

The girl initially made limited disclosures to the police, the court heard, but when he was arrested Jenkins admitting touching the young girl inappropriately.

The victim's mother said the family had suffered extreme distress, and the seven-year-old had become extremely suspicious of any physical contact.

Rebecca Bradberry, defending, said Jenkins was showing signs on early onset dementia.

"He knows what he did was wrong. There is some hope that he can come to terms with and acknowledge what he was done," she said.

A pre-sentence report suggested Jenkins was an alcoholic, drinking between 5 and 10 pints a day, living a 'sad and isolated life'.

Sentencing, Judge David Ticehurst said: "You are 67, and you have committed similar offences of indecency when you were young.

"Now you have committed four further offences, and they are very unpleasant indeed.

"It was an abuse of trust and you have caused immense damage to the little girl, you should be thoroughly ashamed," he said.

Judge Ticehurst sentenced Jenkins to eight years in prison on extended license, and he was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.