A PENSIONER who molested a girl when she was 12 years old has been warned to expect a jail term.

David Harrod, 71, must now register as a sex offender after admitting groping the child in February last year.

Harrod had been due to face trial by judge and jury later in the month after denying three counts of sexual assault of a child.

Yesterday the case was brought back before a judge and Harrod, of The Croft, Urchfont, changed his plea to a single charge.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the defendant accepted squeezing the girl's breasts and groping her below the waistline, both over clothing.

"There is a degree of breach of trust as he was a family friend," he said.

He said that when he is sentenced the Crown will drop the other two charges, which relate to similar allegations when the girl was younger.

Robin Shellard, defending, said: "He is an elderly man of previous good character. I would ask for a pre-sentence report."

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to February 24 to give the probation service time to see him and released him on bail.

He said: "Whoever sentences you will have to consider an immediate custodial sentence, this crosses the custody threshold. You, Mr Harrod, should expect an immediate prison sentence."