A 13-year-old girl has said she is now frightened around other people after a pensioner sexually assaulted her.

The teenager had been touched on the breast in Tenterden by Ivor Davies, who claimed he was trying to find out if she really was a girl, a court heard on Monday

The victim said in a statement to Ashford magistrates: "As a result of what happened I am frightened around other people. When there was another incident it made me think of him again.

"When I think of him it makes me feel unhappy. I also get moody and angry more easily.

"Before it happened I didn't used to get moody about silly things but now I

do."

Sara Pilcher, prosecuting, told Ashford magistrates, that Davies had approached the girl on a stairwell in a block of flats.

Miss Pilcher said Davies had asked her: "Are you really a girl?" and when

she said yes he told her to come here.

Miss Pilcher said: "She walked down towards him, he reached out to her right breast over the clothes."

The court heard he had held her breast and she turned away, covered her chest, and ran up the stairs. Afterwards she went home and told her mother.

Davies was later arrested and said that in police interview that he did not believe she was a girl because of her physical appearance.

Miss Pilcher said: "He said he wanted to see whether she was a girl or not and didn't think the girl minded when he touched her breast because she made

no attempt to move."

The court heard she had stood still for about 20 seconds because she didn't know what to do, before turning and running.

Davies, of St Benets' Way, Tenterden, who was of previous good character, had pleaded not guilty to the assault but was convicted by the town's magistrates on August 14.

The 13-year-old had to give evidence for the trial, as he did, and the case

was brought back for sentencing.

The girl also said in her statement that she even changed the way she dressed now.

Davies was ordered to pay £500 compensation to his victim and given a 12-month community order with supervision by the probation service.

He has been placed on the Sex Offender’s Register since he was convicted.