A 66-YEAR-OLD man faces the prospect of a jail term after admitting sexually abusing a young girl.

When Robert Haynes appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court he pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault.

But the victim, who was not even a teenager at the time of the attacks, may still have to give evidence at court in a trial of fact.

Haynes insists he only carried out the abuse over a two-year period, whereas the prosecution insist it took place over about 13 years.

The court was told that the variation in accounts would make such a difference to the sentence passed that a judge would have to decide which one is correct.

Haynes admitted the offences on the same victim which the prosecution says cover the years from 1969 to 1977, when she was aged from five to 12.

He denied a further six counts of indecent assault and two offences from 1977 to 1980.

He also denied three charges of indecency with a child.

Those charges will not be proceeded with to trial by the Crown after the guilty pleas were entered.

James Patrick, prosecuting, said the guilty pleas reflect the criminality committed by Haynes.

The court was told that Haynes, who was living in Swindon at the time of the offences, will be submitting a basis of plea saying what offending he accepted doing.

Adjourning the case, Judge Douglas Field warned him that any discount on sentence he received for pleading guilty could be lost if a hearing of fact was required.

He released Haynes on bail on condition he lives at a bail hostel in Milton Keynes and does not have any contact with prosecution witnesses.

In June Haynes' brother David was jailed for 14 years for a number of sex offences, including rape on young girls.