A paedophile stole the “childhood and innocence” of his young victim, a court heard.

Steven Lamond, 65, is starting a 40-month jail term for sexually abusing a young boy who was said to have been “traumatised” by the crimes.

Lamond was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court. He had pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one sexual assault on a victim aged under 13 – both during 2009.

Prosecutor Andrew Petterson said Lamond’s criminal conduct was reported to police some time later.

“When asked by police officers in his ‘achieving best evidence’ interview how the defendant made him do it, he replied that he threatened to batter him if he didn’t,” said Mr Petterson.

The victim had been left suffering from anxiety, depression and sleeplessness.

He also told police: “Lamond stole my childhood, my innocence and my ability to trust. I feel strongly this man should be punished to stop him from doing to others what he has done to me.”

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said Lamond had pleaded guilty on an agreed basis and denied threatening the boy.

“This defendant has struggled with a number of substance abuses, particularly since the death of his wife in 2007,” said Miss Whittlestone.

“I can say on his behalf at the time of the commission of this offence he will not have been a man who was free from alcohol or free from drugs.”

Miss Whittlestone said the offences committed by Lamond, of Windermere Road, Whitehaven, were “out of character”.

Lamond was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.