A MAN has been jailed for two years for sexually assaulting a boy in Wantage.

Martin Wakelin, 44, of Edington Place in Grove, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at a hearing at Oxford Crown Court this afternoon.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also made.

Wakelin pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 at a previous hearing at the same court on January 12 this year.

He sexually assaulted the boy in Wantage on May 28 2016. He was arrested the following day and charged with the offence on 8 July.

Investigating officer Det Con Laura Mabbott of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit in Oxfordshire said: “The victim and his family have shown tremendous courage and dignity throughout our investigation and the court proceedings.

"I would like to pay tribute to them and I hope they feel some sense of justice now that Wakelin has been convicted and sentenced.

“This investigation relied heavily on forensic evidence which proved that Wakelin carried out the offence. Faced with this evidence, Wakelin, who had previously denied the offence during police interviews, pleaded guilty at court.

“Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse or suspects that a friend or loved-one might be the victim of a sexual offence can have confidence in the Force to investigate all allegations."