A 66-YEAR-OLD MAN has been jailed for life after being pleading guilty to raping a 3-year-old boy he was babysitting.

Barry John Britton had befriended the child’s family at the start of this year  and gained their trust sufficiently to be allowed to babysit the boy at their home in London, police said.

The alarm was raised by the boy’s grandmother after a chance conversation between her and the boy, and the police were called.

Britton was arrested immediately at his home in Westminster, London, and specially-trained officers interviewed the boy.

Britton refused to co-operate with police but the evidence against him was strong enough for him to be charged with a number of offences, including oral rape of a child and causing a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

The pensioner changed his plea to guilty while he was on remand. He was sentenced to life at a court in London on Thursday, and must serve a minimum of five years.

London Metropolitan Police described him as a “predatory offender”.

“The family can now be assured that their son and other children are safe from this dangerous man and that he has been brought to justice,” said Detective Sergeant Tom Haines.

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