A FORMER Justice of the Peace has been jailed for nine months after he was found guilty of abusing of a child.

Rodney Hannam, of Ashley Heath in Ringwood, was convicted of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 on a date between April 1997 and April 1999.

The 83-year-old was acquitted of a second count of indecent assault, as well as two counts of gross indecency with a girl aged under 14.

Hannam, who uses a walker, plans to appeal his conviction on the grounds of "inconsistent verdicts", his representative Nicholas Robinson told the court.

"The defendant pleads for the court's mercy," Mr Robinson said, adding it was an "exceptional case".

"The defendant [has a] terminal illness. There is a very real risk he will lose his life in custody," he said.

Judge Peter Johnson, who allowed Hannam to remain seated as he was sentenced, said: "[This case] brings no pleasure whatsoever to the court."

He added: "You were a man of positive good character, having served your community in a number of roles, including that of a Justice of the Peace for many years in Southampton.

"You stood on trial and were convicted of by a jury of having indecently assaulted a child.

"This was a sustained incident, albeit only one, and I sentence you on the basis that this was an aberration on your part."

The judge said Hannam maintains his innocence.

"There will be mercy, but not to the extent sought by your learned counsel Mr Robinson," he said.

"Having regard to all that I have read about you it seems to me that this must be a case which involves an immediate custodial sentence."

Before being lead to the cells, Hannam embraced his wife of 60 years.

He will serve around four-and-a-half months of his sentence before being released on licence, Judge Johnson said.