A sordid past caught up with a 74-year-old grandfather yesterday when he was locked up for a catalogue of child sex offences.

Silver-haired Raymond Pardy from Paddington Grove, Bournemouth, was finally brought to justice years after first abusing a nine-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The shamed father-of-three admitted nine counts of indecent assault and two charges of indecency with a child.

His victim, now an adult, sobbed throughout the Bournemouth Crown Court hearing as prosecutor Stuart Ellacott outlined the case.

He said the abuse had only come to light after the victim plucked up courage last summer to confide in her shocked mother.

On one occasion, after he had molested her, Pardy told the trusting schoolgirl: “We’ve been playing mummies and daddies today, haven’t we?”

In Pardy’s defence, Tim Bradbury said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and saved his victim from having to relive her ordeal in court.

Mr Bradbury added that Pardy had brought “complete and utter disgrace on himself and his family”.

But his wife of more than 40 years, who was in court throughout the proceedings, was standing by him.

Pardy showed no emotion as he was jailed for three years, Judge Roger Jarvis told him he would be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

He added: “Your behaviour has proved to be a bombshell in the lives of the family of your victim and in the lives of your own family as well.

“What you did was a gross and continuing breach of trust; you simply took advantage of her.”

Speaking after the case, Pardy’s victim told the Daily Echo: “Justice has been done today.

“I kept what he did to me a secret for years, trying to blank it out but it was always there.

“Every day and every night I thought about it; when I went to bed and did manage to sleep I had nightmares. It was only when I got older that I realised it was so wrong and knew I wasn’t living a normal life. Telling mum was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

“Thankfully she believed me but she now blames herself for what happened; she still cries. Our whole family has been broken.

“I’m having counselling and seeing him locked up will hopefully bring closure for all of us.”