The girl was just 10-years-old when William Frost, of Manor Court, Bourne, began the abuse which continued for a number of years while she was living near Lincoln.

The judge, Recorder Paul Mann said Frost's behaviour marked him out to be a "predatory paedophile".

Lincoln Crown Court was told on Wednesday that Frost bought the girl gifts her mother couldn't afford to win her trust and the abuse only ended when she grew old enough to refuse his advances.

Frost, who is 62, admitted eight charges of indecent assault and four of sexual activity with a child.

Recorder Paul Mann jailed him for six years and banned him from working with children for life.

The judge told Frost: "You never used force and you never used threats but you knew you did not have to.

"All she could do was avoid you as much as possible.

"The nature of your behaviour marked you out as a predatory paedophile."
Michael Cranmer-Brown, pros-ecuting, said Frost "was persistent and kept saying he wanted sex.

"He was trying to carry on even when she was older."

Rupert Mayo, mitigating, said Frost had no previous convictions for sex offences.

"If there was a target, it was limited to one particular victim," Mr Mayo said.