A young girl was made to write a letter of apology to the man she accused of sexually abusing her after he maintained his innocence, a court heard.

Years later she bravely made a formal complaint to the police and pervert Frank Mills admitted he had molested her as a child.

The 77-year-old widower, of Field Court, Newton Abbot Road, Gravesend, was jailed for just under seven years – a week after his right leg was amputated below the knee.

Mills, who has previous convictions for sex offences, was allowed to sit outside the dock in a wheelchair at Maidstone Crown Court and had to be taken to prison in a specially adapted van.

Prosecutor Nicholas Hall said the offences dated back some years. He would touch and rub the girl’s breasts over and under her clothes and refer to them in “approving terms”.

On one occasion depraved Mills was seen touching her, but he blocked the view and continued with the abuse, making her perform a sex act on him.

“He would tell her she was a good girl,” said Mr Hall. “He said she should not tell anybody and it was their little secret.”

The girl, who cannot be identified, eventually complained to her parents but she was not believed and made to write the letter apologising to him.

However, she contacted police in 2014 and he was arrested.

Mills admitted four offences of indecency with a child, two of indecent assault, two of sexual assault and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Mills was given a probation order in 1973 for gross indecency with a girl under 16 and also had a conviction for exposure.

Sentencing Mills to six years and eight months, Judge Charles Macdonald QC called the abuse “wicked” and said the victim had been degraded.

“An aggravating feature is that she did complain at the time and she was disbelieved because of your denial,” he said.

“She was made to apologise to you in writing. Many years later she renewed her complaint. There is an impact which shows the evil of sexual offending against children.

“There is somewhat limited remorse accompanied by minimisation and lack of insight. I take into account your health.”

Mills’ name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.