A paedophile who whipped a boy and subjected him to a series of indecent assaults has been warned to expect a jail sentence.

A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found Jonathan Morris, 46, of no fixed address, guilty of committing three indecent assaults and one serious sexual assault in Chisbon Heath and Clacton. He had denied the offences.

Judge Brian Watling told Morris to expect a prison sentence but has delayed sentencing him until a psychiatric report has been drawn up.

After Morris was found guilty on Friday, Judge Watling said: "He is a confirmed paedophile and this man now has a record of offending against children dating back to 1978.

"I am very concerned about the danger this man represents."

Nicholas Wilcox, prosecuting, told the court on Friday Morris first committed a serious sexual assault in 1978 before being imprisoned for 18 months for four counts of indecent assault and four acts of gross indecency.

The court was told he continued to offend in Ireland where he was sentenced to six years in jail for unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 years old.

Chelmsford Crown Court had heard during the trial last week how Morris's victim, who is now 19, was keen to learn to ride a horse and a friend of the family mentioned Morris.

After meeting the boy, who was nine or ten years old at the time, it was arranged for Morris to collect the boy from school, the court was told.

This took place at least three times, and on two occasions Morris took the child to his home, and while the boy was having a bath, he was indecently assaulted.

The sexual offence also took place in Morris's home, and the third indecent assault happened at an industrial unit in Clacton.

After hearing Morris had been found guilty, his former mother-in-law Janet Brick said: "I'm glad, in fact I'm ecstatic. I just hope he gets a stiff sentence to send out a clear message to others."

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