A mother has spoken out about the horrifying moment she discovered her son had been targeted by a paedophile.

Ian Gregory was recently sentenced to over two years in prison after admitting to a series of sex offenses against a young boy. The mother of his victim shared her harrowing experience, saying she felt physically ill when her son revealed the abuse.

"My son told me, 'He's been doing things to me.' I just felt sick when he told me," the mother stated.

Gregory, from Fellside Terrace, Stanley, near Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing a child to watch sexual images, and 14 counts of possession of prohibited images. The abuse of the child, described as vulnerable in court, occurred while Gregory was living in Basingstoke.

At Winchester Crown Court, Adrienne Knight, defending, explained that the 46-year-old had begun accessing indecent images of children online after leaving the army five years ago, following a distinguished 12-year career. She added that the defendant had discovered his attraction to young boys after viewing images on the internet.

"Mr. Gregory says, 'I don't like myself for the way I feel. I didn't ask to be born like this,'" Knight stated. "It's criminal and it's awful, but he can't help the way he was born. He wants to come out of this a better man."

Barnaby Shaw, prosecuting, highlighted the devastating impact the offenses have had on the victim and his mother, who have since relocated from the area. Speaking about the young victim, he said, "He has difficulty sleeping and has been having nightmares, screaming out."

Mr. Shaw revealed that Gregory had not initially admitted to the sexual assault before the police discovered a video on his phone.

Sentencing Gregory to 25 months in prison, Judge Guy Boney remarked, "You are a man of good character who had an exemplary army record for 12 years, and you stand there at the moment covered, rightly, in shame for the offenses you committed."

In addition to imprisonment, the judge imposed a sexual offenses prevention order and ordered Gregory to be placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.