A supermarket worker committed “disgusting and appalling” sex offences against a young boy when he was a teenager, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Andrew Hopkinson, 41, of Byron Street, Skipton, repeatedly abused the child more than 25 years ago in a loft bedroom and a field – and threatened to kill him if he told anyone.

He was aged 13 to 16 at the time and his victim was six to nine-years-old, prosecutor Nick Askins told the court.

Hopkinson pleaded guilty to eight offences of indecent assault and three of making a threat to kill.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 300 hours of unpaid work and a three-month electronically tagged curfew.

Hopkinson told police he abused the boy, who moved from the region many years ago, out of malice and revenge because he had been sexually molested as a child.

Robin Frieze, for Hopkinson, said he immediately admitted the offences and had since led a responsible and almost blameless life.

Judge Jonathan Rose said: “This is a disgusting, appalling and protracted catalogue of sexual offences against a very young child. You threatened to kill him if he told anyone. This must have been terrifying, shocking for him.”