'Devious' sex predator jailed for six years

Wayne Harris was found guilty by a jury within less than an hour of deliberating

A man described as a "devious, manipulative, sexual predator" has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a boy about 20 years ago.

In April Wayne Harris, of Smithy Close in English Bicknor, Gloucestershire, was convicted of four counts of causing or inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child.

He was sentenced on Monday and will have to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely when he is released, or a further order is made.

Det Con Victoria Bygrave from Gloucestershire Police said Harris, 41, subjected his victim to "a catalogue of horrific sexual offences".

During a four-day trial, the jury was told how Harris engaged in sexual activity with a woman while in the presence of the child for his own sexual gratification.

Harris, who was in his early 20s at the time of the offence, said nothing of a sexual nature occurred with the child and instead told the court the victim had made up the story, but the jury found him guilty after less than an hour of deliberations.