A LOWESTOFT man accused of having sex in his car with a vulnerable girl more than 40 years his junior will be sentenced next month after being convicted by a jury of four sex offences.

Colin Bloomfield, 59, of Kirkley Run, had pleaded not guilty to three offences offfences of sexual activity with a child and one offence of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in 2008.

But a jury at Ipswich Crown Court unanimously found Bloomfield guilty of one of the offences of sexual activity with a child and guilty of the other three offences by majority verdicts of 10-2.

Judge John Devaux adjourned sentencing until the week beginning February 13 for a pre-sentence report and ordered Bloomfield to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register.

During the trial, the prosecution claimed that Bloomfield had taken advantage of the girl, who was described as 'vulnerable', and had made her feel wanted. The abuse had started with Bloomfield stopping his car and leaning over and talking to the girl, who was 14, kissing her on the lips and neck.

This had progressed on other occasions to him touching her thighs over her clothing, getting her to touch him initimately and then having sex with her on two occasions.

After his arrest, Bloomfield denied the allegations and told police they were 'pure fantasy'.

Giving evidence, he admitted buying the girl a mobile phone but denied that it was so he could contact her.