A MAN who loitered around a wooded area and launched a sex attack on a terrified 13-year-old schoolboy has been jailed for six years.

A judge told 67-year-old Peter Guy, of Maden Street, Tyldesley: “It was a traumatic incident for him caused by your deviant way.”`

He pointed out that the victim has suffered nightmares since the incident in Tyldesley on June 1 and, even though he is blameless, he feels ashamed and his personality has changed.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Guy, who pleaded guilty to the sex assault, has never been in trouble with the police before and Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said that the attack was 'an aberration' of his otherwise law-abiding life.

Neville Biddle, prosecuting, said that the boy left home about 11.30am on an errand for his dad and then went to play in the trees near Queensway.

On his way home he went down a dirt track off Squires Lane to play football.

“He kicked it into some nettles and went to retrieve it and was confronted by the defendant, who shouted ‘watch you don’t get nettled’.

"The boy later said that he had seen him in the area before carrying a bag.”

Mr Biddle said that almost immediately Guy made a sexual overture and then pulled him into the undergrowth, took down his trousers and underpants and began molesting him on the ground.

The boy managed to get away and fortunately a suspicious man working nearby took a photograph of the defendant.

A mum and daughter tried to calm the boy down but he ran off.

The mum went to find his dad and when he was reunited with his son the boy burst into tears.

Mr Biddle said: “The police were called and Guy was arrested. He initially denied things but then admitted what he had done."

Paul Treble, defending, said that Guy had initially been evasive when quizzed by police 'because he could not believe what he had done'.

He is in a settled relationship having had a civil ceremony with his husband, who is standing by him and when Guy is released they plan to move away to a different area.

Mr Treble said: “It was a moment of madness and he cannot explain why he did it.

"He regrets it and is remorseful."

Guy was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life as part of his sentencing on Thursday.