A FORMER Minehead GP, described as a long standing and respected member of the West Somerset community, has started a four year prison sentence after pleading guilty to sex offences against a young girl, which started when she was just six years old.

Dr Peter Cooper, 95, of The Ball, Minehead, admitted one offence of indecency with a girl under the age of 10, and five of indecent assault when he appeared before Taunton Crown Court on Monday.

He denied four charges of indecent assault, which the prosecution accepted.

Sam Jones, prosecuting, said the charges represented a course of conduct 'over a significant period of time', which came to light on Boxing Day, 2014, when Cooper was confronted by members of the girl's family.

He admitted sexual abuse had taken place and police launched an investigation during which the girl was interviewed and gave details of various incidents.

Cooper was arrested and answered 'no comment' when interviewed.

Police took electronic equipment from his home and recovered a letter to the victim in which he apologised and said “You were small and innocent. I was tempted and wanted to say sorry for a long time.

"I will never forgive myself. Please accept my apologies”.

In a victim impact statement, she said she would never trust males again.

It had affected her 'massively' and destroyed her confidence in herself.

“He was a doctor and must have known the impact of his actions. I would have thought he would have admitted it straightaway”, she added.

Patrick Mason, defending, said Cooper had reiterated his apologies and written to her.

Born in 1921, he qualified as a doctor in 1945 and served in India before began his GP practice in Minehead 'before the NHS started'.

“For 40 years he was a dedicated family doctor in West Somerset – a pillar of the community, serving on various local committees and leading a blameless, useful and law-abiding life and a father and grandfather.

“The situation now is that he's 96 in a couple of weeks. He looks after himself and is living reasonably independently.

"He leads a quiet life and is respected in the community although I dare say not so much after today”.

Mr Mason said there was a strong package of mitigating features in the case and Cooper hoped to live beyond a prison sentence.

“If he was given a suspended sentence, he would not celebrate but would be grateful for not having to spend his last days in prison.”

He said Cooper had problems with knees, hips and balance and also with hearing and diabetes.

He was physically in decline, he added.

Judge David Evans said he had been a useful member of society, had served in the Army, an officer in India at the time of Independence and as a doctor until retirement in the 1980s.

Referring to the police investigation, he said it was 'a crying shame' he gave a 'no-comment' interview because the girl felt his failure to publicly admit it 'exacerbated the harm your sexual abuse had caused her'.

He had made 'perverted attempts' to sexually arouse an innocent and immature child and she was inhibited by his position in the community.

“The harm you caused her is ever present in her mind”, he added.

It was an abuse of trust and the shortest prison term was six and a half years, which he discounted to four years.

Throughout the hearing, Cooper was allowed to sit beside his solicitor at the back of the court instead of in the dock because of mobility problems.

Walking with sticks, he was accompanied out to the cells to avoid difficult stairs.