A DISGRACED magistrate and sexual predator who abused a young boy in a judges' car park has been jailed for more than seven years.

Rodney Fox, who had a strong 'desire for underage boys', kissed a young schoolboy after buying him fast food and eating it in a car park under Reading Magistrates' Court.

The 49-year-old teaching assistant used a special key fob to park in the exclusive car park at weekends between April 2014 and November 2015.

The magistrate was arrested the same month with specialist officers examining his computer.

They found two images, one of them of the most serious category.

Fox took advantage of the young schoolboy when he was just 13-years-old.

One time he pulled his victim's trousers down and performed a sex act on him.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: "Fox is a sexual predator who committed sickening crimes while in a position of trust with no regard for the suffering of a vulnerable young boy.

"Sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault and it’s vital that all survivors know they will be listened to and supported when they speak out.

“Fox must now receive treatment while in prison to help ensure he is no longer a threat to any child when he is released."

Appearing from custody the former IT worker was jailed for seven and a half years.

Susan Krikler, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service said: “Following his arrest in November 2015, his computers were examined and an indecent image of a child located on one of them.

“It is only due to the courage of the victim that the disgraceful behaviour of this man has been exposed.

"I would like to pay tribute to the victim for his strength and tenacity in coming forward and providing evidence for the prosecution.

“We worked closely with Thames Valley Police from early in the investigation to help build the strongest possible prosecution case.

“The emotional impact, on the victim and his family, of the actions of this man is impossible to quantify.

"I hope that the convictions and today’s sentence give some small comfort to them.

"Our thoughts are very much with them all at this time.”

Detective Sergeant Christopher Lemm of Child Abuse Investigation Unit, based in Reading, led the investigation.

“I would like to thank all the agencies who offered help and unwavering support to progress this case," he said.

“I have no doubt that Mr Fox would have continued to offend against other children and he had a hidden desire for underage boys.

“However we cannot talk about this case without mentioning the bravery of the victim who showed a strength of character in coming forward and supporting this case.

"I believe by coming forward he has stopped a recurrence of such offending in the future."

Fox, of Northumberland Avenue, Reading, was sentenced today at St Albans Crown Court.

He was convicted of inciting sexual activity with a child under 13, sexual assault on a child under 13, making indecent images of children relating to two indecent images found on his laptop at the same court on Friday, April 7.