A BRIGHTON pensioner has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of 16 sex offences against a boy dating back to the late 1980s.

Roy Pratt, 76, of Stanmer Villas, was charged with committing 18 acts of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16 between August 1987 and the August 1993 in Brighton. The boy was known to him.

He admitted two charges of indecent assault and a jury at Brighton Crown Court found him guilty of the remaining 16 charges following a trial in April.

Pratt was remanded in custody and sentenced on Friday at Brighton Crown Court.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and barred from having access to children.

In a victim impact statement the victim said: “This man began to manipulate and groom me for his own sexual needs when I was a child. I now find it difficult trusting people close to me and I suffer anxiety and flashbacks of the abuse.

“Ultimately this crime ruined my life before it had really begun.”

Detective Constable Aran Boyt said: “The sentence Pratt received sends out a message that we take all such reports seriously and we will investigate wherever possible to try and seek justice for the victims, no matter how long ago the offence took place.

Email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or ring 101.