A MAN has been jailed for the rape of a young boy.

John Knight, 66, from Bexhill has begun an eight-year prison sentence for the crime, as well as for possessing extreme pornographic images which were not related to child pornography.

Knight, of Kingscott Close, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday after being convicted the previous day of raping the 10-year-old at another address in Bexhill in April 2013, and of possessing the images.

The images, which were not of the boy or any other children, were found by police at Knight’s address when they searched it after he was arrested on suspicion of the rape.

He will also be a registered sex offender for life and was given a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SHPO) severely restricting his access to children and computers.

Detective Constable Kelly Buck of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said; “Knight was a friends of the boy’s family and used this to work his way into his confidence, eventually getting to a stage at which he was able to abuse him for his own sexual gratification.

“As Knight pleaded not guilty the victim had to give evidence in the trial and although he was able to do so on the basis of a video-recording he was still cross-examined and we admire his strength of character in being prepared to do this”

He will serve at least half the tariff in jail.