A FORMER Devizes mayor who has terminal cancer apologised to his alleged sex abuse victim profusely by email, a prosecutor claimed today.

Timothy Price, 57, of Waiblingen Way, denies abusing the boy multiple times between 1974 and 1980.

Price appeared at Salisbury Crown Court charged with historic sex crimes in relation to a youngster from Durrington.

The boy is said to have suffered abuse at the hands of Price from the age of nine.

Prosecuting, Andrew Houston said Price first made the boy touch him, then moved on to touching him and coercing him to engage in oral sex.

He said the boy had tried to tell family members but the shame had made him clam up. He had not even told his wife, the court heard.

Mr Houston told the jury the alleged victim finally emailed Price on August 3, 2013 after learning that he had terminal prostate cancer. He copied in members of Price's family and friends.

The email was entitled: “Your sexual abuse of an innocent child: Me.”

In the email, Mr Houston told the court, the complainant said the abuse had haunted him for years and that he needed closure before it was too late.

The email read: “You made my life hell by asking me and making me do things an adult should never ask a child to do. The nightmares are always there and never go away.

“I can see what you did was grooming and you subjected me to years of sexual abuse. I remember never wanting to do this and you convincing me that I should. It fills me with absolute revulsion. It makes me want to go and be sick.

“Even now I feel I should keep quiet - admitting it makes me feel dirty and ashamed.

“I think the shame should be yours to face. If you are man enough, as I have to, every day for the rest of my life.

“The shame is awful. I have spent my life trying to block it out.”

Mr Houston said Price replied just over an hour later with the subject “My crimes”.

He claims the email said: “I suppose I always knew the day would come. Of course I bitterly regret my sexual abuse of you over many years and in no way should you feel it was anyone's fault but mine. Of course I apologise for my crimes. I hope that helps in some way.

“You were my only victim.

“I make no excuses for my predations. I took advantage of you for my own depraved sexual satisfaction.”

Mr Houston said: “This was a full and frank confession,” adding: “He's smiling away in the dock telling you he's not guilty.”

Mr Houston said: “We say this defendant immediately acknowledged his guilt, immediately admitted his guilt.”

Price, who is 6ft 4ins tall and described as a big man, has been charged with four counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency with a child, under the laws in place in the 70s.

They are sample counts, as the alleged victim says the abuse happened regularly for four years until he finally said no.

The trial continues.