by Keith Hunt

A football steward is behind bars after he being found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl.

Pensioner Roy Humphreys was warned by a judge he was facing a substantial prison sentence.

The 68-year-old, of Broadway, Gillingham, denied four charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sex and three of sexual assault.

A jury convicted him of three charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sex and one of sexual assault by a 10-2 majority.

He was acquitted of the three remaining charges.

It is understood Humphreys resigned as a Gills steward when he was arrested.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim told her mother she had a secret and went on to reveal that Humphreys had kissed her and touched her.

Nina Ellin, prosecuting, said the girl also claimed she had sexually touched Humphreys.

"She said she didn’t know why she did it," said Miss Ellin. "She said she should have stopped him. She said everything was her fault, adding: ‘I was supposed to say no.’

"She has been so badly corrupted and manipulated by what was happening, she has taken responsibility for it."

Miss Ellin said the alleged victim’s sexualised behaviour came from grooming, which was "part and parcel of the abuse".

"She described how he touched her," she continued. "He would get on top of her or she would get on top of him."

Humphreys denied touching the girl and claimed she would try to kiss and touch him.

She told him, he said: "You can do anything you like to me." He said he responded that he could go to prison if he did so.

"You may think he is minimising it and putting all the blame on the girl," added the prosecutor.

Remanding Humphreys in custody until after July 2, Judge Philip Statman said the maximum sentence for such offences was 14 years' imprisonment.

He added he would have to consider if Humphreys was a danger to the public when passing sentence.

The judge asked the prosecutor to inform the victim that she had been "a very brave little girl".