A PERVERT who repeatedly molested a little boy for seven years was today starting a six-year jail term -- as a police officer urged victims of sex abuse to come forward.

Father of two Paul Ellison, 36, who had tried to buy the child's silence with cash, had denied the allegations against him, forcing the youngster to have to give evdience, but now acknowledged what he had done, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Ellison, who himself was abused as a child, Judge David Pirie said that so often was the case with sex offenders.

The judge said the defendant's admission of what he had done proved the complainant was telling the truth. His behaviour had been persistent and only custody could be justified.

Ellison, of Thursden Street, Burnley, had been convicted by a jury of 11 counts of indecent assault on a male and one charge of a serious sex offence. The judge added after his release he would be on licence until the whole of the six-year sentence expired. After the case Detective Constable Cath Billington said she was pleased Ellison was jailed and she wanted to reassure anybody who had been abused or was currently being abused that a thorough investigation would be conducted.

She said the victim's family were glad Ellison had finally owned up to what he had done, but wished he had done it earlier.

The officer added the boy, who would have to carry with him what happened for ever, was now going to have to rebuild his life.

John Horgan, prosecuting, said Ellison began abusing the boy when the child was seven.

He told the youngster he had something to show him, played some pornographic videos and committed a serious sex offence on the boy.

The victim was told to keep quiet over what was happening and Ellison would give him £2.

Sex offences took place on a regular basis after that, with the defendant committing indecent acts on the boy .

Paul Hague, defending, said although Ellison now acknowledged what he had done, he had run a trial and "put the boy through it".

The defendant was genuninely remorseful and intended to go on the Sex Offenders programme while in prison.