A MAN who sexually abused a three-year-old girl has been warned he is facing a lengthy jail term.

Robin King pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 when he appeared before Swindon Crown Court.

But following a two day trial earlier this week, a jury of seven men and five women took an hour and a half to convict the 36-year-old.

Now a judge has remanded King, of Priory Road, Park South, in custody so the probation service can compile a pre-sentence report.

And he said that it was only necessary to address the length of the sentence and whether the defendant presented a future risk of harm to children.

King, who denied any wrongdoing, sexually abused the little girl on two occasions in March last year.

Mary Cowie, prosecuting, said that the Crown would be seeking a sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his liberty on release, at sentence.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client was aware he was facing a lengthy jail term and could not object if he bail was revoked so he could start serving the sentence.

Judge Tim Mousley QC put the case off for the report to be prepared and remanded him in custody.

He said: "Robin Alan King: you have been convicted on the clearest evidence of these offences on a particularly vulnerable and very young girl.

"You will come back on a date to be fixed in about three weeks time. You will have a pre-sentence report on the length of the sentence.

"And more importantly whether you are dangerous in the meaning of the Criminal Justice Act 2013: that means whether there is significant risk of serious harm in the future."

He also told him he must register as a sex offender with the total time he would have to continue doing so depending on the final sentence.

Should the judge find he presents a significant risk of serious harm then he could impose imprisonment for public protection, effectively a life sentence, or add an extended licence to his jail term.

That would mean he would be under the control of the probation service for a longer period when he is freed.

He would also have to serve two thirds of the custodial sentence rather than getting released at, or even before, the halfway point as with inmates serving normal sentences.