A MAN has been given a community order for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old boy.

Paul Biggs, 22, of The Penn, Over Norton, near Chipping Norton, was found guilty of the offence which happened on September 1, 2007, last month.

The boy cannot be named for legal reasons.

Biggs, who has learning difficulties, was 16 at the time.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court cleared Biggs of one further count of sexual assault, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of rape.

Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Patrick Eccles said: “Sexually touching a child may have very bad consequences for them in later life, nobody knows how they will feel about it.

“That is why it is taken very seriously by the courts. Had you been convicted of all of the offences then you would have been sent to prison. That is not happening to you but this is serious enough for a community order.”

He added: “You were only 16 yourself and the court recognises because you have significant learning difficulties you might not have appreciated this type of sexual experimenting could have bad consequences for the young boy you touched.”

He was given a 12-month community order, with a supervision requirement, and must do 100 hours of unpaid work.

He must also sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and pay £300 towards costs.

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