Pervert told victim he was 'a dirty old man'

A "dirty old man" aged 85 has been put behind bars for a sex attack on a schoolgirl.

Raymond Smith had said "sorry" to his victim afterwards but warned what he did must stay "their secret".

Prosecutor Sue Hirst told Newcastle Crown Court: "He apologised for what he had done, told her he was sorry, he was a dirty old man.

"He said what had happened was their secret."

The court heard when Smith was questioned by detectives last year, he said he had done nothing wrong and that the victim was trying to make money from her claim.

Smith, of Park Terrace, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Judge Robert Spragg sentenced him to 28 months behind bars, with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration. The judge said he had read a letter from the victim, setting out the devastating effect the attack has had on her life. Judge Spragg said: "To this day it continues to affect her daily life. It is a burden and terror she had endured every day since it happened."

The judge said the victim spoke about the "anger" and "fear" the attack has caused her and how it has damaged her trust in people and her ability to form relationships.

Judge Spragg said Smith poses "a risk of sexual harm" to children and told him: "The appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody."

Smith had never been in trouble before and "worked hard" during his life.

Tony Corn berg, defending, said Smith had expressed in a letter how he was "desperately sorry" for what he did and for the damage he caused.