A BABYSITTER who repeatedly sexually abused a young girl has been remanded in custody by a judge.

Michael Lee, 20, is facing a lengthy jail term after he was found guilty of four counts of assault by penetration following a trial at Swindon Crown Court.

Lee abused a position of trust to molest the girl over three years, starting from when she was six and he was about 15.

Although the jury knew he had admitted a separate offence of contacting an 11-year-old girl online and asking her to send him an naked image of herself, they weren’t told he had also pleaded guilty to other matters.

While he was on bail and at university in Southampton last autumn, just days before his 20th birthday he started a sexual relationship with another underage girl.

After the jury of eight men and four women convicted him of four offences Alex Daymond, defending, asked for the case to be adjourned for a psychological report.

Recorder Robert Pawson agreed and remanded him back into custody until Friday March 10, when he is to be sentenced.

Lee's crimes came to light when the youngster came downstairs after bedtime a year ago with a heartbreaking letter for her mum.

She said a talk in assembly at her school about calling Childline if anyone touched you in a way they shouldn't prompted her to tell.

Her letter, which had a picture of a crying face on it, explained that 'Michael my old babysitter' had touched her inappropriately.

"Please don’t have a go at me and please don’t call the police because I don’t want all the pressure of telling. I am so sorry for not telling. Please don’t have a go at me. I am so sorry," she wrote.

The youngster told how under the cover of playing games Lee repeatedly touched her and placed his finger inside her.

Although she told her brother what had been happening he did not believe her and now says he is wracked with guilty about it.

When Lee was questioned he insisted he hardly ever had contact with the girl and minimised the amount of time he babysat for the children.

But under cross examination from Mark Worsley, prosecuting, he accepted that he did have a problem with young girls.

Speaking from the witness box he said he was 'sickened' that he had asked the 11-year-old to send him an indecent picture of herself in exchange for one of him.

The police were informed of that matter after the victim contacted CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, in March 2015.

And the Southampton matters were discovered when police checked his devices under his bail conditions.

They found he had caused or inciting the 15-year-old to engage in sexual activity on September 2, had sexual activity with her the day after and again on September 14.

In October he caused her to watch a sexual act on three different days and when he was arrested was found to have indecent images of children.

Lee, of Helmsdale, pleaded not guilty to five counts of assault by penetration but was convicted of four and acquitted of one.

At earlier hearings he admitted two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two of sexual activity with a child, three of causing a child to watch sexual activity, and three of possessing indecent images of a child.

An NSPCC spokesperson for South West England said: “This disturbing case shows how vital it is to educate pupils about abuse and empower them to come forward if they have been abused.

“The victim in this case has shown immense bravery in speaking out and should be given the appropriate support to recover from this ordeal.

“The NSPCC Schools Service teaches children aged 4 to 11 how to recognise and understand abuse while giving them the confidence to speak out and seek help. It aims to visit every primary school in the UK and can have a life-changing impact on some of the young people it reaches.

"If anyone has any concerns about a child, they can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice. Children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111, or get help online at www.childline.org.uk.”

For more information or to arrange an NSPCC Schools Service visit, go to www.nspcc.org.uk