A PAEDOPHILE lied about running a children's mountaineering club and abused a teenage boy on a camping trip.

Barry Millard, who lives in Horsham Road, Crawley, was given a 22-month sentence at Hove Crown Court on November 26 after admitting indecently assaulting a then 13-year-old boy during a camping trip to Ditchling Beacon in 1974.

He had already served a sentence for sex offences against a young boy in the 1970s and has now been sent to prison again for a similar offence during the same period.

The boy went alone on the trip with Millard who said he ran the "Crawley Mountaineering Club".

But, there is no independent record of this existing.

The offending happened when they stayed overnight in a tent.

The victim said nothing to anyone about this distressing experience for more than 40 years, but when he saw press coverage of Millard's February 2017 three-year prison sentence for indecent assaults on another boy in his late teens in Crawley between 1977 and 1979, he felt encouraged to come forward.

Millard is already a registered sex offender and subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his access to young boys, and these requirement stay in place after his latest sentence.

Police Investigator Lucy Hailes said: "We will always follow up and investigate reports of this nature, no matter how long ago the events are said to have happened.

"If you have been the victim of any kind of sexual abuse do not suffer in silence.

"You can contact us on 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, and arrange to talk in confidence to experienced investigators.

"We can also arrange access to further sources of support and advice."