A Lowestoft motorcycle shop owner has been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.

Robin Womack, 48, was found guilty of four offences of indecent assault and one of sexual assault after a week-long trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Womack, formerly of Pakefield but more recently living in Carlton Colville, denied all the charges.

He was cleared of oral rape and two offences of sexual assault by the jury and cleared of five other sex offences on the direction of the trial Judge John Devaux.

Sentencing Womack on Friday, Judge Devaux said he had not committed any similar offences in the past and was well-respected by many people.

During the trial Womack said that when police came to his shop in Beaconsfield Road, Lowestoft, and arrested him on suspicion of child sex offences he had been 'horrified'.

Asked by his barrister Andrew Thompson if he had sexually touched the alleged victim, Womack replied 'never' and said he felt 'ripped apart' by the allegations.

The court heard how Womack carried out the attacks over a five-year period when the girl was aged between eight or nine and 14.

Giving evidence, the girl claimed that Womack had been drinking lager and had put some in a small glass for her to drink. Shortly afterwards he told her she had to go to bed and had put a porn film on in her bedroom.