Pedophile Brian Pierce was imprisoned at York Crown Court

Brian Pierce, 76, committed a “shocking” crime of sexual activity in Rydale over a decade ago in front of a child, said recorder Andrew Dallas.

The judge said the crime had a “deep, long-lasting botanical” effect on the six-year-old victim.

In a statement of the victim's impact, the victim's mother told Pierce that after hearing details of what he did, she felt she was “physically sick in the hole in my stomach.”

“Brian, you made a conscious decision, which destroyed countless lives and caused damage,” she said.

Pierce, from the Retirement Village of St. Crispin, Northampton, initially attempted to “fight” the allegations by denialing the crime, Recorder Dallas said.

However, he pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial. The judge added after the victims were reviewed mutually.

Pierce was jailed for two years and 10 months on Friday (April 17) at York Crown Court.

He passed court proceedings due to physical difficulties, but as the judge told him, he stood temporarily, “You are going to prison for 34 months.”

The judge also placed Pierce in the lifetime registration of a sex offender and issued a sexual harm prevention order that prevented him from contacting anyone under the age of 16.

Recorder Dallas said the victim found the criminal case “terrifying.”

The victim's mother said:

“I don't know if I'll understand the consequences of your sexual disapproval.”

She said the trauma her daughter experienced “broken my heart” but was also inspired by the overwhelming courage of her child.

“If you didn't abuse her physically and mentally and didn't hurt her, we'd never know any women she might have been,” she said.

“(She) will always be the brave person I know.

“It's more than I can do, just getting out of bed, spending more days than I have days, and even trying to do it with the world.

“We couldn't be proud of how she carried this process and how she carried everything she achieved despite the scars you and the rest of her life.”

The term “co-sick” doesn't even get close to describing him.”

Following the hearing, police investigator Doug Sternway, who led the North Yorkshire Police investigation, praised the victims for “advanced courage and disclosing abuse to the NSPCC and the police.”

“As for Brian Pierce, he hid the fact that he abused a six-year-old for years. The term “co-sick” doesn't even explain him.

“I hope that the fact that he was ultimately convicted is some kind of comfort to the victim and her family and that they continue to heal from the ordeal he has given them.”