A former shopkeeper has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison after pleading guilty to a number of child sex offences. 

Gary Robson, 59 and from Durban Road in Lowestoft, was arrested in July last year and charged with 10 offences against children which included sexual touching of a girl under 13 and 16, sexual assault by penetration of a girl under 13 and possession of indecent images. 

It also included one count of recording images beneath the clothing of another, also known as "upskirting".

Lowestoft Journal: Gary Robson, 59Gary Robson, 59 (Image: Suffolk Police)

The offences took place from 2016 to 2022 in the Southwold and Blythburgh areas.

Robson, a former shopkeeper in Southwold, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday where he was sentenced to 13 years in jail, having pleaded guilty to eight offences at an earlier hearing on October 24.

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual touching of a girl under 16.

READ MORE: Man seeing carrying out indecent act in his car in village

DC Jessie Hodds of the Safeguarding and Investigations Unit said: "This was a highly complex and difficult case to investigate and I thank the victims and their families for their ongoing support, resilience, strength and patience.

"Without their evidence, it would have been extremely hard to secure this conviction and sentence.  

"The victims will never forget what happened, but I hope this sentence brings some closure to their ordeal."