A 52-year-old Chepstow man who sexually abused a young boy when he was just a teenager himself was jailed for four years today.

David Aston subjected the boy to serious sexual offences in the 1970s when they were both youngsters.

Aston went on to live a decent and law-abiding life, working hard and raising a family, Gloucester crown court was told.

Justice finally caught up with him this year when the victim told police of his ordeal at Aston's hands.

Last month a jury convicted Aston of eight offences of indecency and gross indecency against the boy.

Jailing him Judge William Hart said "Your reputation has been devastated because the sin which has lived with you all these years has been exposed to the light of day.

"Your good name has gone forever."

The victim had told the jury during the trial that he was forced by Aston to commit sexual acts on wasteground near their homes, in a barn, and in Aston's bedroom.

Aston threatened to kill the boy if he told anyone what had happened.

In a victim impact statement the victim said his life had been blighted by the abuse and he had received a 'bloody life sentence.'

Jason Coulter, defending, said Aston still denies his guilt.

He said that since Aston's conviction his family had been forced to flee their home because of the reaction of neighbours.

"I'm afraid that once the local paper reported the jury's verdicts and the nature of the allegations that had been proved the neighbourhood, who were once friendly and decent towards him, turned very much the other cheek.

"Effectively days after the jury verdict he and his partner and his stepdaughter and her husband had to be removed by the police from the family home - such was the strength of local feeling brewing.

"They are now living at an address elsewhere which I do not intend to reveal in open court."

Mr Coulter said that since the offences Aston had led 'a decent, lawful and productive life, raising a family successfully and working hard to support and maintain a family.

"After conviction he was very swiftly suspended by his employers and his employment was terminated pretty swiftly. Now he has nothing and he knows what his fate will be today."