A PENSIONER, 90, found guilty of sexually abusing a young boy, has been told he is likely to die in prison.

Gordon Dunn “groomed” and abused his victim over a six year period between 2012 and 2018.

He denied abusing the boy, but was found guilty following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.

He was jailed for a total of eight years.

The jury found Dunn guilty of one multiple count, of at least five occasions, of sexual assault on a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was found not guilty of a second count of sexual assault and not guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child.

Mitigating for Dunn, barrister Bernice Mulvanny said her client, a lifelong Jehovah’s Witness, was likely to die in prison.

She said: “The reality of the situation is that no-matter how long he is given in prison it is likely he will not serve the full period.

“It is likely he will die in prison.

“He asks through me if at all possible that you make it as short as you possibly can in the circumstances. One that gives him a glimmer of hope of seeing the outside world”

Ms Mulvanny said Dunn has been disfellowshipped by his Jehovah’s Witness group.

Dunn, of Merton Road, Southampton, was given an aggregated eight year sentence by Judge Peter Henry, who said Dunn’s age could not be used as a way to lower the sentence.

Judge Henry said: “Of course I am aware you are 90 years old but age itself is not a mitigating factor.

“You are elderly, but it is not mitigating to say that you might die in prison.

“There are serious matters... and they must be met with a commensurate sentence.”

The Daily Echo requested a custody picture of Dunn, but police said they did not have one.