A PENSIONER who “changed the lives of his victims forever” after he abused four girls as young as five years old has been locked up.

Ernest Robinson has been jailed for seven years after he sexually assaulted the youngsters over a number of years by touching them inappropriately and abusing them.

Two of the children were aged between seven and nine years old when they realised Robinson, 76, was carrying out “disturbing acts”.

Robinson denied the seven charges against him, but was found guilty by a jury at Southampton Crown Court last month.

In statements from the victims read out in court at Robinson’s sentencing hearing by prosecutor Christopher Stopa, the abuse was described as “scary” and “sick”.

One statement read: “When we were at school and studying sex education it felt weird because they were talking about stuff that had happened to me.

“I didn’t like to think about it at all. It was wrong and not good what he did.”“Now I am bigger, I understand it more and it was wrong.”

Another said: “When I think about why he did this, it is just not right. He should not have done it.”

A further statement added: “The girls have been so brave, even though they were scared…their school has been affected and they are uncomfortable in biology classes…this reality makes me feel sick.

“Our lives have been changed forever.”

The court heard that on different occasions Robinson would touch his victim inappropriately on the bottom and kiss them.

Fern Russell, mitigating, said that although Robinson continued to deny the charges, he would accept the punishment handed to him.

She added that Robinson had since developed a major depressive condition which had left him contemplating suicide.

Robinson, of no known address, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with an additional year on extended license. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for the remainder of his life.