A convicted sex offender has been jailed for molesting a boy more than 30 years ago.

Pensioner Robert Russell had originally denied the offence and the victim died before he changed his plea to guilty.

The 65-year-old former carpenter, of View Road, Cliffe Woods, was sentenced to four years and nine months for indecent assault on at least six occasions.

The abuse was committed in the early 1980s. He was convicted of other sex offences in 1988 and 2006.

His further offending was not then known and he was spared prison on both occasions.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the boy washed Russell’s car for him and he would overpay him and give him sweets, alcohol and cigarettes to lure him into his home.

Russell groomed him and abused him over about four months. It stopped when the victim’s family moved away.

“He said he was utterly terrified, as a child would be,” said the judge, Recorder David Jeremy QC. “He went on to lead an intensely troubled life. He was taken into care.”

He did not tell anybody about the abuse until he spoke to a psychologist.

“The fact he bottled it up suggests it remained an unresolved issue for him,” said Recorder Jeremy.

“I am satisfied it was a major cause of his inability to cope with his life and the devastation of that life.

“Psychological harm must have been caused. I don’t treat it as the sole cause of the destruction to his life, but it was a highly significant cause.”

"He said he was utterly terrified, as a child would be" - Recorder David Jeremy QC

The judge said neither of the courts were in possession of the full facts when Russell was sentenced for the other offending.

“You have never been dealt with by a court in full possession of the facts,” he told Russell, who sat in the dock holding his walking stick.

After pleading not guilty, a trial was set for October this year. The victim, therefore, died expecting to have to give evidence.

Russell’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register.

Mark Dacey, defending, said Russell had stayed out of trouble for several years.

“He has not been convicted and gone out and done it again,” he said. ”It is matters catching up with him. It will his first time in custody. He has been remanded since October and is suffering the shock of custody.

“He has tried to live a quiet and law-abiding life.”

Russell had a son and had been unable to see his grandchildren, Mr Dacey added.

A spokesman for the NSPCC said: "Russell’s campaign of abuse will have had devastating consequences on a victim who tragically died before seeing him finally admit his guilt.

"Thanks to the bravery he showed in speaking out about his ordeal, Russell is now facing the consequences of his depraved actions.

"It’s important that child sexual abuse survivors know they will be listened to when they come forward, no matter how long ago the offences took place.

"Support and advice is available via the NSPCC Helpline, on 0808 800 5000. Children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111 or get help online via www.childline.org.uk."