A 10-year-old girl has helped jail a paedophile who attacked her by covertly taking a picture of him on her computer games console.

John Fisher first touched the girl when she was nine and although she told her mother what had happened nothing was done about it, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

But when the same thing happened more than a year later she had the presence of mind to use the camera on her Nintendo DS to provide proof of what was going on, Robert Sadd, prosecuting, said.

Fisher, 46, of Homefield Avenue, Lowestoft, admitted two offences of assault by penetration in January 2010 and November 2011 and was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

He was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, restricting his contact with children under the age of 16 for the next 10 years.

Sentencing Fisher, Judge John Holt said the offences were very serious and he did not think it appropriate for him to receive treatment in the community.

Steven Dyble, for Fisher, described the offences as 'serious' but said no physical harm was caused to the child.

He said his client had pleaded guilty to the offences at the earliest opportunity and had not committed similar offences in the past or served a prison sentence before.

Mr Dyble said Fisher, who was 'borderline learning disabled', had been candid enough to admit he was attracted to girls in their early teens and would benefit from a treatment programme aimed at addressing his offending behaviour.

After yesterday's hearing, Det Con Annabelle Bunn, the officer in the case, praised the girl for her courage and presence of mind.

She said: 'Her quick thinking in using her games console to take a photograph of him touching her provided indisputable proof of what had happened and she was brave enough to come forward, report the incident and give us a full and accurate account of what had gone on.'

jane.hunt@archant.co.uk