A 21-YEAR-OLD man, who used to live in Bradford on Avon, has been sentenced to six and a half years in jail after admitting to sexually assaulting a young boy.

Daniel Davey was found guilty of two counts of sexually abusing the boy, who was aged five and six at the time, six times over an 18-month period between 2015 and 2016.

Davey, who was sentenced today (Friday), at Swindon Crown Court, will also have to serve a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign the sex offenders register. A restraining order has also been put in place to protect the child.

Det Con Graham Mansell said: "I welcome this sentencing, as it reflects the seriousness of these offences and the impact they have had on the child involved.

"Davey's depravity drove him to systematically abuse this very young boy at least six times over an 18-month period.

“I'd like to thank the victim for his bravery in coming forward, along with his family, and recounting what is obviously a distressing time in his life.

“I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may have been a victim of sex abuse to report it to police.

"We will investigate, provide you with the full support you need, and do all that we can to bring to justice offenders like Davey.

Please contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Victims can also seek support and counselling from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) based at the New Swindon Sanctuary - they can be contacted on the 24-hour helpline 0808 168 0024.