Paedophile, 72, jailed for groping child

Brian Todd was diagnosed with cancer hours before he was jailed

A paedophile who groped a child as young as seven has been jailed for six years.

Brian Todd's offending only came to light several years after the assaults because the child had been "too scared" to say anything, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Todd, 72, of Charlton Court, Whitley Bay, was found guilty of four counts of sexually assaulting a child.

He was jailed on Wednesday afternoon hours after being told he had cancer which would need intensive treatment, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the child said they would not allow themselves to be called a victim.

They said they had blamed themselves for the abuse and "bottled up so many feelings", including "anger and devastation".

'Uncomfortable and disgusted'

The court heard the child told police they were "too scared at the time [of the abuse] to tell anyone" but now felt Todd should be "held accountable for what he has done".

In mitigation, Jeremy Barton said Todd still denied the crimes.

He said Todd had been to hospital on Wednesday morning for the results of a biopsy which confirmed he had pT1 bladder cancer, which would need "invasive surgery" within a month followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Judge Sarah Mallett said the abuse made the child feel "uncomfortable and disgusted" even at the young age when it happened.

The judge said Todd's offending had had a "significant impact" on the child's life and he had known they were "particularly vulnerable" when he assaulted them.

Judge Mallett said Todd's cancer treatment would be "provided in custody with all that entails".

He will also have to sign the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life upon his release with a sexual harm prevention order also made.