A man who as a teenager sexually abused a younger boy in Beckenham 35 years ago has been jailed.

Barry Rosamond, from St Martin in Cornwall, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court yesterday (November 20) to three years in prison.

The 48-year-old was earlier found guilty of four counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child and another sexual offence.

The court heard the male victim, now in his 40s, reported historic assaults to police in July last year.

He told officers the attacks began in 1977 when he was just eight years old and Rosamond was about 15.

The victim suffered several serious sexual assaults over two years while alone with Rosamond at an address in Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham.

Once the victim began to realise the way Rosamond was treating him was not right, he never returned to the address and managed to avoid his attacker altogether.

Rosamond was arrested on August 8 last year and subsequently charged.

He must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Paul Barham, from the Met's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, said: "I commend the victim for his courage and commitment in this case.

“This was a prolonged series of serious sexual assaults on a young boy by the defendant, who effectively took advantage of a child to satisfy his sexual urges."

Detective Sergeant Tim Hammond, from the same unit, added: "Rosamond has been convicted of a horrific series of crimes.

"He himself was only young at the time he committed this abuse and this has been reflected in the sentence passed by the court.”

Det Sgt Hammond said he hoped the result provided some comfort to the victim and assured others that historic sex abuse allegations will be treated seriously.