A HAMPSHIRE sex offender slept in his car for a week before handing himself in to the police and confessing what he had done, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Stephen Graham, 54, described as a “broken man”, wept as he was jailed for sixand- a-half years after admitting six sex assault charges on a girl.

The abuse came to light when his victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told her boyfriend.

Prosecutor Caroline Brandford-Wood said that when the victim’s mother confronted Graham he burst into tears and could not explain why he had done it.

In mitigation, Anne Brown said that Graham’s offending had only lasted about a fortnight and the fact that he stopped was of significance.

She said: “After four or five occasions he stopped completely and that makes it an unusual case.

“He is overwhelmed by shame. He is on the edge of his emotions and doesn’t know the answer to the question why he did it. He is aware of the impact on her.”

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Ralls QC said that Graham was not a wicked person by nature. He did not consider him a dangerous person and thought that he would not repeat what he had done.

By pleading guilty, he had also spared his victim from having to relive the incidents in court. However, the offences were serious and represented a breach of trust.

Judge Ralls told him: “The affect of what you have done to her is still continuing.”

The case, he added, was a tragedy for both Graham and his family.

The court had heard that Graham, of Nelson Cottage, Holbury, was of previous good character.