AN elderly paedophile's crimes came to light when his five-year-old victim was overheard talking about them at primary school.

Roger Sanders, 76, of Church Road, East Brent, was jailed for 30 months at Taunton Crown Court after pleading guilty to the offences.

As he sentenced him, the judge dismissed Sanders's claims that his attacks on the girl were not sexually motivated

Ian Fenney, prosecuting, said police were called in after the victim "in a moment of innocence at school disclosed what had been happening to her".

Mr Fenney said Sanders sexually touched the youngster on five occasions, and once invited her to touch him sexually and performed a sexual act in front of her on another occasion.

A victim impact statement from her father read to the court said: "It's been devastating to hear these things.

"We worry about the future for her and that she might think this behaviour is normal."

Patrick Mason, defending, said Sanders, a father of two grown-up children, had led "an exemplary life" until he committed the offences.

He added that Sanders is "horrified" that he behaved in "this quite dreadful way" and is "struggling to cope with what he's done".

Sanders denied he had been sexually motivated but was unable to explain his actions.

He told the court: "I'm disgusted with myself, totally."

But Judge David Ticehurst said Sanders "had no other motivation" than a sexual one.

Sending him down, the judge also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told Sanders he must sign the Sex Offenders' Register, as well as paying a £170 statutory surcharge.