A DEVOTED Andover charity coordinator, who hid his sordid past through tireless fundraising, has been jailed for three years for historic sex offences.

Simon John Hall, of Cornfields, was given a three year sentence during a hearing in Winchester Crown Court on Friday 29 April.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges involving historic sex offences with a girl aged between 13 and 15 years old.

The first was of indecent assault on a female and he was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

He was given a one-year concurrent term on a charge of indecency with a child under 16, and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

Hall pleaded not guilty to a number of other offences which will now be kept on his file.

The offences took place between 1992 to 1994, when Hall was in his early twenties.

Hall was a popular member of the community and had a longstanding affiliation with Andover Wheelers spanning over 35 years. He also claimed to be a part-time firefighter.

Hall was an ambassador for Naomi House and Jacksplace and helped to raise thousands of pounds for the children’s hospices over the seven years he volunteered there.

He was well known for regularly coordinating the Salisbury Plain Cycle Challenge.

Spokesman for Naomi House & Jacksplace, Keith Wilson, said: “We are aware of the recent sentencing of Simon Hall and can confirm that he assisted our fundraising teams as a volunteer basis.

“There has been no contact between Mr Hall and the charity since the autumn of 2015.

“We are confident in the robustness of our safeguarding procedures and no-one in our care has been put at risk.”