Lewd and libidinous practices refer to any sexual crimes against children committed prior to 1 December 2010.

The offence was abolished in 2009, but is still used for crimes carried out before then.

During the trial, the court heard how Dott had “caressed” the girl’s bottom while giving her a piggyback and that, on another occasion, he had exposed himself to her.

On another occasion, she said Dott suggested she “take her trousers down” and lifted her top and began kissing her stomach after asking if she wanted to “play a guessing game”.

The girl, now a woman in her 40s, said Dott would kiss her, touch her inappropriately and carried out a sexual act that would, if committed now, amount to rape.

She said she recalled the “smell” of creams Dott used for a skin condition after he kissed her and that the actions left her “shocked and scared”.