CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM An elderly paedophile who “preyed” on children for many years was today jailed for four years for sex assaults he carried out on three children dating back more than 40 years.

CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM

An elderly paedophile who “preyed” on children for many years was today jailed for four years for sex assaults he carried out on three children dating back more than 40 years.

Pensioner Maurice Grimmer, 72, admitted carrying out sex assault on one girl when she was aged about three to six years old and four indecent assaults on another young girl which date back to 1966.

Grimmer of River Mead, Stalham, also admitted sexually assaulting a young boy more than 30 years ago.

Norwich Crown Court heard Grimmer had previous convictions in 1976 for indecently assaulting two boys under 14 and in 1981 he was convicted of three indecent assaults on a girl under 14 - and had gone on to carry on offending.

Richard Potts prosecuting said the latest offences came to light when one of the victims came forward to make a complaint to police as she was concerned Grimmer might still be in contact with young children.

Jailing him Judge Peter Jacobs told him: “It's become perfectly clear you have been preying on young children for a long, long time. You don't seem to be fully aware of the seriousness of what you have done. You don't seem to fully appreciate how serious it is and how dreadful it is.”

He also placed Grimmer on the sex offenders' register for life and banned him from working with children.

He also made a sexual offences prevention order under which Grimmer must not be alone with any child under 16 unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

Michael Clare mitigating said that Grimmer was not “academically gifted” and could not read.

“He has difficulty understanding his predicament.”

However he said Grimmer accepted his guilt and had spared the victims giving evidence in what would have been a “difficult” trial.