A MAN from Amesbury who sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Ian James Mcdonald, 24, of Solstice Rise, Amesbury, was found guilty of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity on September 17 following a trial at Salisbury Crown Court.

On Monday Judge John Dixon, sitting at Winchester Crown Court, sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment for the sexual assault and nine months, to run concurrently, for the second offence.

Both incidents happened on December 19 last year.

DC Paula Clissold, from Wiltshire Police, said: “The victim has had to relive the ordeal and has been extremely brave throughout the process.

“We encourage anyone, child or adult, who has been the victim of a sexual assault to tell someone. If they don’t want to report it straight to police, they can tell a trusted adult who can report it on their behalf not only so that the offender can be identified but so that the proper help and support can be provided.

“Child abuse is a very serious offence and Wiltshire Police are dedicated to the prevention, detection and conviction of sex offenders.

“Such offences have an enormous impact on the victims and their families and we hope the verdict and subsequent sentencing will offer them some peace of mind.”

Macdonald was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and has been made subject to a sex offender prevention order for ten years.