A PENSIONER aged 77 has been warned by a judge that he could die in prison after he was convicted of a string of “horrendous” sexual offences committed against children as young as seven over a period of 30 years.

David Bolton - who shouted “p*ss off” as he was remanded in custody - was found guilty of six offences of rape, a count of indecent assault and seven allegations of sexual assault by a jury at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday.

He was cleared of one offence of rape, and all but three of the remaining convictions were by majority verdicts.

Bolton, a former security guard, who had lived at various addresses in the East Bowling area of Bradford, was remanded in custody awaiting sentence on May 10.

During the trial, the court heard that Bolton sexually abused a young girl after tying her hands to a bathroom washbasin with string.

Another victim was plied with expensive gifts to buy her silence while Bolton repeatedly raped her.

After the jury’s verdicts, Bolton’s barrister, Richard Canning, said his client had been diagnosed with early stage dementia but a psychiatrist had found him fit to plead to stand his trial.

Mr Canning said that “given the length of sentence that is inevitable” he was not asking the court to adjourn for a probation report or further medical reports.

Judge Jonathan Rose postponed sentencing for the preparation of victim impact statements.

He told Bolton he had been found guilty of all but one of the 15 counts against him.

“They are sexual offences against children as young as seven over 30 years,” Judge Rose said.

He continued: “These are horrendous offences. You will receive a very substantial sentence that is likely to mean that you spend the rest of your life in prison.”

Labelling Bolton’s crimes “appalling and dreadful” Judge Rose told him he will remain in custody until he is sentenced.

At this point, white-haired Bolton dropped his walking stick in the dock with a clatter and shouted: “P*ss off!”

He went on to loudly complain in front of the jurors: “Call that justice? I call it a load of pigging rubbish.”

After Judge Rose had asked him if he had anything else to say, Bolton was led off to the cells by two security officers.

The judge told prosecutor Richard Walters he wanted victim impact statements so he could learn more about how the woman abused by Bolton had suffered over many years.