Pervert, 76, jailed for sex attack at Sikh temple

The child was alone in the foyer of the Wolverhampton building when Tara Singh struck in January last year, the city's Crown Court heard.

The defendant – who was a total stranger –praised the turban of the victim before inviting him for a 'chat.'

The boy was encouraged to sit on the lap of the pensioner, who kissed him and fondled his private parts both over and under his clothing, revealed Miss Cathryn Orchard, prosecuting.

The distressed child finally managed to break free from the predator's clutches and fled in tears to tell his mother what had happened. The defendant denied being responsible, but was later arrested after being identified from CCTV of the incident. He then admitted being the attacker and pleaded guilty to two charges of sexually assaulting the boy.

Singh, who set up home in Park Street, Goldthorn Park, arrived in this country on a six month visitor's visa in 2002 but did not go back to India when it ran out.

"It appears that he is an 'over stayer' and here illegally," conceded Mr Simon Burch, defending, who blamed embarrassment for the man's failure to express remorse or acknowledge the seriousness of the offence.

Judge Barry Berlin sent the defendant to prison and said: "You exploited and took advantage of this boy after gaining his trust through your age and the location.

"You did not know him and did not appreciate the temple CCTV was filming you when you invited him in a grandfatherly way to sit on your lap – but you had no intention of acting as a grandfather to him. He effectively had to fight his way from your grasp."

Singh was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and put on the Sex Offender Register for ten years.