SINISTER paedophile and former Forest councillor Mark Balcombe has been sentenced to four years in prison for child sex offences.

The 43-year-old, who lived in Soudley but now lives in Devon, was convicted in December of indecent assaults on his nephew Stephen Santouris when he was babysitting him.

The nephew, who was 14 at the time of the offences in 2004, has since been praised by detectives for coming forward and speaking out.

His uncle, who served on Ruspidge and Soudley Parish Council, was also found guilty of being in possession of indecent photographs of children and three counts of making indecent images of children.

He had previously pleaded guilty to the possession of 86 indecent images of children. The offences all happened before 2004 in Staunton, near Newent, where the victim lived.

Balcombe was sentenced to the jail term at Swindon Crown Court and will also be the subject of a sexual offences prevention order and have to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Officer in charge of the case Detective Constable Jon Youdan said: "I would like to thank the victim for his courage and commitment on seeing this case to its conclusion.

"It is entirely down to him that we are now aware of, and able to control Balcombe who in my view is a devious and sinister paedophile.

"I hope that the victim, through the justice he has obtained, can now get closure and move on with his life."

Stephen Santouris waived his right to anonymity to raise awareness of his uncle's crimes and to help other victims to come forward.

The former Newent Community School pupil told how his uncle groomed him with wrestling bouts that eventually led to abuse.

He went on to struggle at school and take drugs.

The truth only came out when he was referred to mental health services and after counselling he eventually plucked up the courage to speak to police.

Balcombe, who served on Ruspidge and Soudley Parish Council, initially denied the allegations but pleaded guilty just as the trial was due to start.