A MAN was jailed for eight years for a series of sex attacks on a young girl dating back to 1987.

Patrick Marron remained expressionless in the dock as the judge passed sentence on seven sex charges.

Members of the victim's family sitting in public gallery shouted "yes" loudly as the verdicts were given by the jury.

They were warned by the judge to keep quiet or he would have them removed from court or charged with contempt of court.

Marron, aged 52, formerly of Broadoak Lane, Bury, had been bailed to an address in Bath and had been on trial at Bolton Crown Court.

He had denied seven charges, including two of buggery, three charges of indecent assault of a child and two charges of indecency with a child.

The jury returned guilty verdicts on all seven charges after two and-a-quarter hours of deliberation.

Judge John Roberts said that Marron had breached the trust between him and the child and that he had carried out acts of serious sexual abuse.

He jailed him for eight years and ordered that he sign the Sex Offenders Act for the rest of his life on his release from prison. The court will also inquire into his financial assets because he was on legal aid.