A 25-year-old catering assistant at Colchester Zoo who sexually assaulted a schoolboy has been jailed for seven years.

David Pennery took indecent pictures of the boy, who was under 10, and on one occasion he sexually assaulted him after taking him on a visit to the zoo, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Pennery, of Rayner Road, Colchester, admitted three offences of sexual assault on a child and four offences of making indecent images of children.

The court heard that of 4,286 indecent images and movies of children found on Pennery’s computer equipment, 879 were in the most serious level A category, 1164 were in category B and 2,243 were in category C.

In addition to being jailed Pennery was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for life.

Sasha Bailey for Pennery said her client was appalled by the offences he had committed and accepted that he needed help.

The investigation into David Pennery began in 2015 after it was reported to the police he had been sexually abusing a young child.

He was arrested on December 15, 2015 and charged on October 25, 2016.

Investigating officer, Dc Rachel Moss, said after the court hearing: “David Pennery is a dangerous predator who preyed on a young child whose trust he’d abused.

“Pennery’s crimes were vile and despicable and I am pleased he’s been taken off our streets.

“He will now have a significant time in prison to reflect on his actions and the impact they have had on his victim.

“I want to praise the victim and their family for the courage they have shown throughout the investigation.

“I am just pleased Pennery has admitted his crimes so the family do not have to relieve the ordeal through a criminal trial.”

In a statement, the family said: “We are glad that this man is now behind bars and we want to thank Essex Police for the hard work they put into this case.

“No sentence will make up for the pain and suffering we have gone through as a family though, and the recovery from this ordeal will take time.”