A 60-year-old Hampshire dad is today starting a life sentence following a history of horrific sex attacks on women and young children.

Roy Etheredge was jailed after his latest crime - trying to rape a young mother while her child slept in the same room.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Etheredge, who worked for a shop-fitting firm in the city, carried out the attack after visiting his victim's house to put up a bathroom cabinet.

A keen member of a city amateur dramatic group, he put two ten-pound notes down the woman's cleavage and put his arms around her.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, removed the ten-pound notes. Etheredge kissed her on the cheek and she fell back on to the bed where he tried to have sex with her, holding her wrists with one hand as he undressed himself and her.

The Millbrook pensioner showed no emotion as he was sent down by Judge Jeremy Burford QC.

He was given life imprisonment under the "two strikes and you're out" rule as Etheredge had, more than 30 years ago, molested a young girl and then cut her throat.

Jailing him, Judge Burford said: "You planned something of this nature it was not a spur-of-the-moment thing."

Etheredge, of Cumbrian Way, pleaded not guilty to one charge of attempted rape and two of indecent assault at a trial in May but was found guilty of attempted rape.

The member of Redbridge Amateur Theatrical Society, who acted as treasurer and stage manager, had been married since 1978.

He had a string of previous convictions.

In 1968 he appeared before Romsey magistrates for indecent assault after picking up a young female hitchhiker.

The following year he was convicted of indecently exposing himself to three boys.

And in 1969 he was jailed for five years, after he admitted indecently assaulting two young sisters he had enticed into a wood.

When one of the girls started crying he had put a piece of glass across her throat, causing a wound that needed 11 stitches.

Psychiatric reports labelled Etheredge an 'opportunist offender' with a 'lack of empathy, remorse or guilt'.

A letter written by a member of the Redbridge Amateur Theatrical Society was given to Judge Burford. It described Etheredge as a concerned, helpful man who had given no cause for suspicion.

In May 2002, Etheredge stage-managed a show for the group at Redbridge Community School. The production featured Etheredge singing a song from Cabaret.

Terry Windebank, a member of the group, told the Daily Echo after the sentencing: "To us Roy was a friend and we were a bit taken aback to be quite honest. He was quite a decent type of guy.

"He was the treasurer and stage manager and his wife Chris made the tea."

Judge Burford admitted Etheredge deserved credit for his long marriage and bringing up three children, but added: "You display no empathy for the victim or any previous victims.

"You have a lack of empathy, remorse or guilt. I have no doubt that you still pose a significant risk to the public."

DC Phil Crossland at Hampshire Police said changes had been made to the system of how serious sexual offences and rape cases are reported to ease the ordeal of pressing charges.

"Hampshire Constabulary prioritises serious crime and has recently changed and upgraded its approach to the whole issue of rape from the initial reporting of rape right through to the subsequent trial and beyond," he said,

"We hope to provide a better service to victims which nowadays are male and female. We now have specially trained officers who are involved in the whole process."

Etheredge received life for attempted rape, three years for one count of indecent assault and three for the other. All will run concurrently.