A RAMSEY man who showed a pornographic film to a five-year-old boy before abusing and raping him has been sentenced to six years in prison. At Peterborough Crown Court on Friday, Craig Latham, 46, was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault on a

A RAMSEY man who showed a pornographic film to a five-year-old boy before abusing and raping him has been sentenced to six years in prison.

At Peterborough Crown Court on Friday, Craig Latham, 46, was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault on a boy and one charge of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16.

The assaults took place more than 20 years ago.

The male victim, who is now 24 years old, told the court the abuse continued until he was aged about 10, and although Latham never raped him again, other indecent acts took place on at least three separate occasions.

The court heard how after Latham had raped the boy he told him "he shouldn't tell anyone" as "it wouldn't just be me who goes to prison but you as well".

The abuse only came to light in February 2003 when the victim confided to a friend about what had happened. It took him another two and a half years to come forward and talk to the police.

Latham, who denied all the charges and was cleared of one specimen charge, said the case was a conspiracy against him.

Defending Latham, Stephen Spence said: "My client has always denied these charges. He has admitted that he was often alone with the toddler when he baby-sat for him but we are being led to believe that out of the blue this man decided to assault the boy."

Before the assaults took place Latham had formed a relationship of trust with the children while babysitting them and the court heard how the children liked spending time with him because he used to play with them.

The court was told he later used games of hide and seek to get them on their own so he could indecently assault them.

On one occasion, when Latham was baby-sitting, he went into the boy's room and sexually assaulted him.

In court the victim said: "I thought about screaming out but I didn't. I was too scared so I pretended to be asleep."

On another occasion Latham was playing hide and seek with the nine-year-old girl and he suggested they hide under the duvet together. He then indecently assaulted her.

She told the court: "I remembered what he had done to me but I tried to put it at the back of my mind.