Gamekeeper Anthony Sheen who repeatedly groped a 15-year-old girl has been ordered to complete a sex offenders' programme.

Sheen was told to go on the course after a judge put him on a suspended sentence for the abuse of the young girl.

The 53-year-old put his hand down the teenager's top, touching her breasts, rubbed her legs and made numerous lewd comments to her, the court was told.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the girl was a friend of the family and would sometimes go out on his quad bike with him.

He said the offences happened while they were in a grain shed and while out on the quad bike.

Miss Marlow said he also gave her money to buy top ups for her mobile phone and would also send her inappropriate text messages.

Sheen, of Spreckley Road, Compton Bassett, Calne, pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual assault between the start of November last year and late February this year.

Nick Fridd, defending, said his client had made full admissions to what he had done.

Passing sentence Judge Douglas Field said: "You are a man of 53 and as a result of these pleas of guilty you have lost your good character.

"You have offended against this young girl of 15 who was known to you for many years and she was able to place a considerable amount of trust in you and you broke that by groping her on all these separate occasions.

"The pre-sentence report tells me you have opened up to the probation officer and he recommends that you go on this sex offender course.

"He says in the report that this is very a demanding and onerous programme and I agree with that."

He imposed a four month jail term suspended for two years and told him complete a sex offenders' programme.

Sheen has also been made subject to a seven year sexual offences prevention order and must register as a sex offender for the same period.