SEXUAL abuse committed by a defendant in his youth only emerged four decades later, a court heard.

James Pinkerton lost his good name, however, in the wake of one of three younger children he abused in the late 1960 and early 70s, coming forward to report it to police in 2015.

Further complaints, by the two other victims, followed and Pinkerton made denials when questioned.

But, on the day the case was scheduled to be heard at trial, at Durham Crown Court, the now 60-year-old defendant changed his pleas and admitted three counts of indecent assault.

Pinkerton, of The Crescent, Sherburn Village, near Durham, was said to be of otherwise good character.

A probation report, read to the sentencing hearing, stated that he was young at the time of the offences and sexually inexperienced.

The report author, who classed Pinkerton as posing a ‘low to medium risk’ of re-offending, told the court: “There was very little grooming or pre-planning. It was just a case of engineering himself to be alone with the complainants at the time.”

Michael Hodson, mitigating, said: “Immaturity and his young age at the time are significant issues here, and there has been no further similar offending.”

The court heard Pinkerton has worked through his adult life until last year, when he retired due to anxiety, in part brought on by the impending case.

Imposing a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Simon Hickey made Pinkerton subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, while he must also notify as a sex offender.