A LAY preacher who sexually assaulted a girl over a five-year period has been jailed for 10 months by a crown court judge.

The allegations surfaced after Keith Young was jailed in January 2004 for indecency with another girl.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Young attended St Paul with All Saints' Church in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham.

Paul Cavin, prosecuting, said the unemployed industrial chemist and his wife became friends with another couple and took their daughter on outings.

But Young molested the girl from the age of seven, putting his hand down the back of her trousers, inside her top and kissing her on the lips.

“All this stopped when she reached around the age of 12, six years ago,” said Mr Cavin. “She was getting older and beginning to understand what was going on.”

The allegations were made in early February last year.

Just over a year earlier, Young was jailed for 18 months after admitting four charges of gross indecency with a girl, aged 14.

Around the time Young was about to be released, the victim in the latest case told her mother what had happened to her.

She said in an interview that she hesitated before telling anyone because she felt embarrassed and thought it was her fault.

Young, formerly of Upper Luton Road, Chatham, now of Nettleham, Lincoln, denied five indecent assault charges.

He said the girl “warmed to me almost from the word go”, but insisted: “On no occasion did I ever touch her indecently.”

He was found guilty of four of the charges by a 10-2 majority and a not guilty verdict was entered on the remaining charge after the jury could not agree on a verdict.

Judge Timothy Nash said Young, 52, used his experience as a lay preacher “to pass on an altogether different message”.

He told Young: “Your life over the last few years has been a tragedy for you and, in particular, your wife. But that is only one side of it.

“Your conduct has had a profound effect on this young lady. There is no doubt she suffered as a result of what you did. It was a gross breach of trust.”

Young was already on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years as a result of the previous offence.