An 84-year-old man from Whiteley has been jailed for sexually assaulting a young girl.
Joe King indecently assaulted the girl over a four-year period from when she was five years old. The assaults took place at his home in Caraway and in his car.
The incidents only came to light when the girl, now aged nine, told her mother and it was reported to the police, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.
The pensioner pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of multiple indecent assaults.
King, whose health is declining, is deaf and who has to walk with a stick to support his lack of mobility, listened to the proceedings in the dock with special headphones.
Defending Daniel Reilly said King was sorry for his behaviour and added: “He cannot explain why the offences occurred. He believes that it may well have been because of loneliness – but that’s no excuse.
“He cannot find the words to describe his shame.”
Mr Reilly added King hoped the incidents would become a “blur” for the child.
Sentencing King to two years in prison, Judge Sara Munro said it was a “systematic and prolonged sexual abuse”.
King will also be registered on the sex offenders list for 10 years.