A court has heard that a man who sexually abused a young child suffered cognitive issues after shooting himself in the mouth at the age 14.

Now aged 48, Tobias Edward Panter was said to have previously led a "blameless life", but he is now facing a 13-year prison sentence after being found guilty at trial of assault by penetration of a child under the age 13, and sexual assault of a child under 13.

He had also previously admitted to having a variety of pornographic images of a child and also extreme pornography.

Judge Robert Linford said he accepted the reasons for Panter searching out these images, which set the offences apart from the usual incidents of this nature, although specific details cannot be given for legal reasons.

However, he described the sexual abuse of the child, which took place in late 2020, as "incomprehensible".

Truro Crown Court heard a statement from the victim's mother read out, who said that as a result of the abuse the child had suffered bed-wetting, chewed their fingernails and toenails, and was now "terrified" of having their bottom washed.

She said her child did not fully understand what had happened, "only knowing that it hurt", but was "brave enough to tell me."

The mother said her mental health suffered as a result of what she described as "not being able to protect" her child, and she had tried to take her own life.

"The family has been devastated by what has happened, trying to understand how anyone could do such a hideous crime to such a small child," she added.

Speaking on behalf of Panter, of St Teath, Bodmin, his barrister said: "He reached his age of mid 40s with no previous convictions – a man who at that stage had led a blameless life of good character."

He said Panter suffered from post traumatic stress disorder due to incidents in his childhood, which led to him shooting himself in the mouth with an air rifle aged 14.

This caused physical disabilities to his right hand side, affected his peripheral vision and affected his cognitive abilities, which, said his barrister, affected his ability to form rational judgements.

However, Judge Linford told Panter: "You would have known that assaulting [the child] in this way was seriously wrong."

He sentenced Panter to 13 years in prison for assault by penetration, for which he must serve 12 years in prison and the final year on licence, and he must serve two thirds of the sentence behind bars before he can be eligible to apply for the parole board.

A further four years was given for the other sexual assault charge, to run concurrently to the other sentence, and no separate penalty was made for the pornographic images.

He will be added to the sex offenders register for life, and a sexual harm prevention order was made for the next ten years.