A ‘DECEPTIVE’ and ‘cruel’ child sex offender from Weston-super-Mare has been jailed for more than 15 years after being expelled from Thailand to face court.

Robert David Hastings, aged 62, has been convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a ‘vulnerable’ child.

His victim – who was aged between four and nine at the time of the historic offences – came forward in February 2011, prompting Avon and Somerset Constabulary to begin an investigation.

Hastings was arrested by Thai police in November last year and taken to the immigration detention centre in Bangkok before being deported back to the UK in February.

He was convicted of the 13 offences following a short trial at Bristol Crown Court and was sentenced to 15 years and six months in prison on August 14.

Acting Detective Sergeant of Bristol Investigations, Martin Davies said: “Robert Hastings is a deceptive and cruel sexual offender who took advantage of a vulnerable child and subjected her to some truly awful offences.

“When he was arrested by Thai police in November 2014 he told the media he was happy to return to the UK as ‘he’d done nothing wrong’.

“Members of the jury were able to see through his lies and convicted him of 13 serious sexual offences.”

Hasting committed all of the crimes in the Weston area during the 1990s.

Det Sgt Davies said: “I have tremendous admiration for the victim for finding the courage to report these crimes to us, and then being able to endure the long wait while the expulsion and judicial processes progressed. She has shown unwavering support of the investigation and I hope this conclusion will help her to find some form of closure.

“We are extremely grateful to all the agencies both here and in Thailand involved in arresting and bringing Hastings back to the UK to face trial.”

Rachael Scott, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) South West Complex Casework Unit, said: “Robert Hastings was unable to evade justice and will now have to face the consequences of his crimes.

“I would like to reassure anyone who has suffered at the hands of a sexual offender that the CPS will always seek to prosecute, no matter how long ago the offences were committed or where in the world they are now hiding.”