A paedophile pensioner was jailed for 18 months yesterday for sexually exploiting his great-granddaughter.

The Somerset man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty last month of rubbing the six year old?s vagina while playing in bed with her in January, 2001.

The 73 year old, who hobbled into the courtroom with a walking stick, is also subject to two years probation once his sentence was elapsed.

It was the girl?s aunt who first reported the matter to Police and she also gave vital evidence in last month?s trial, during which the pensioner represented himself. During yesterday?s hearing at Magistrates? Court, Crown counsel Shakira Dill read out a short Victim Impact statement from the young girl in which she said she felt ?sad that her great-grandfather had touched her?.

?She said she felt scared around him,? Ms Dill added. In calling for a jail sentence, Ms Dill told the court: ?This defendant has shown no remorse, no feeling towards the victim and still has not accepted the guilty verdict.

?He is not saying a word in his defence and the risk of re-offending remains high.?

In mitigation, defence counsel Michael Scott said: ?We have before us a 73-year-old Somerset resident with no previous convictions. In considering sentencing I would ask you to take into account his age.?

He also said that the ?impact statement is of no consequence?.

In sentencing the man to an 18-month jail term, to include a month already served, Magistrate William Francis said: ?This is sexual exploitation of a six year old by her great-grandfather, there was fondling of the child?s genital area ? this is serious.?

Mr. Scott told the court that he was seeking leave to appeal the November 12 conviction.