A MAN has been jailed for ten years after sexually assaulting a young girl.

Michael Surman 73, from Conqueror Road, St Leonards, was sentenced for gross indecency and indecent assault on the girl, then aged between four and six, at another address in St Leonards between 1999 and 2001.

He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday after a five day trial.

The victim said: “I waited nearly two decades to come forward.

“But I can now spend the rest of my life knowing Michael Surman can never abuse another child ever again.

“I would strongly urge any child abuse victim, how ever long it has been, to come forward.

“Ella Bigsby at Sussex Police did exceptional work in helping me get justice and Sussex Police can help you too.

“If you’re not ready to report to the police yet, I also had help from Survivors’ Network, based in Brighton.

“They can give you advice and support right from report to court. You can visit their website:”

Surman will be a registered sex offender for life and, in addition to his sentence, will serve a further year on extended release licence.

The court also heard he had previously been convicted of possessing indecent images of children in 2010.

The images were taken from the Internet and did not involve any local children.