An admitted paedophile was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison by Magistrate William Francis.

The 40-year-old Pembroke resident, had admitted to sexually exploiting a 12-year-old boy while in a position of trust.

In announcing the sentence, Mr. Francis said he accepted prosecutor Charmaine Smith's submission at a hearing on Wednesday that the boy's age meant that the offence was a serious one.

"In no way can it be said that he co-operated with the accused," Mr. Francis said. "A custodial sentence is the only right sentence here. A sentence of three years is what is warranted here."

Mrs. Smith had asked for a sentence of between three and four years, while the man's lawyer Richard Hector urged the judge not to send the man to prison because he had a condition which was treatable and that he had no prior record.

The married father of two young children - who did not address the court in mitigation - was arrested last August after a sting operation carried out by the victim's mother.

Armed with a hidden tape recorded the mother managed to get him to talk about his relationship with the boy.

The court heard during Wednesday's sentencing hearing that between May and June last year while he was helping the victim with a science project, the defendant tickled the victim all over his body including his private parts and buttocks and made attempts to kiss him on the lips.

Victim impact statements by the boy, now 14, and the mother were read out in court by Mrs. Smith.

The mother begged the court to protect children from the "very, very sick man".

"He cannot be allowed to roam the community preying on innocent children," she said. "He should have no contact with children. He should be branded for life."

In asking for a custodial sentence Mrs. Smith said that the defendant was solely to blame for his actions and that the court had a duty to protect the community, especially children.

She also noted the number of sex crime cases brought before the courts in the last two years.

"This hearing comes at a time of great public concern over the sexual abuse of children," she said. "There has been intense public interest focused in recent years on the law of sexual offences, especially as it relates to the abuse and exploitation of children.

"In the public's eyes, the sentence is the test as to whether justice has been done both to the victim and to the Defendant."