A WESTON man who carried out “sickening sexual abuse” has been sent to prison.

Philip Denford, 28, of Cornwallis Avenue, was handed an extended sentence of seven years, with a custodial term of five years, at Bristol Crown Court on July 26.

He had been charged with 12 offences that were carried out in 2016 and 2018.

These include six counts of sexual assault of a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count each of possessing prohibited images of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

He was also charged with making indecent photographs of a child in categories B and C.

Denford had pleaded guilty to four charges and was found guilty of the other eight.

Alongside his imprisonment, Denford has been added to the sex offenders' register and an indefinite sexual health protection order has been made.

An Apple MacBook laptop has been forfeited and destroyed. Denford must also pay a £120 victim surcharge.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: “Philip Denford is a dangerous and predatory individual who has rightly received a significant prison sentence for the sickening sexual abuse he carried out.

“An indefinite sexual harm protection order is also in place to help protect the public when he is ultimately released.

“The victim showed great courage in reporting what happened to them.

“We are grateful for the patience shown by them and their family while this was investigated and brought to court.

“We hope the lengthy jail sentence Denford has received gives confidence to all victims of sexual offences to report it to police.

“We will believe you, thoroughly investigate those crimes and seek to bring perpetrators to justice.”