A SEX attacker has been jailed for ten years after being convicted of raping a seven-year-old girl with learning difficulties in Bridgwater.

Taunton Crown Court heard that pevert Joseph Loughran had a long history of sex offences dating back to the 1960s - yet was still able to befriend children, even earning the nickname "Papa Smurf" from the youngsters.

And last week Loughran's 30 previous convictions came to light when he was jailed for a decade by a judge who criticised him for distressing the girl further by forcing her to give evidence in court.