A 38-year-old man who blindfolded a young girl and made her touch him indecently as part of a “game” has been jailed for eight years.

Davide Romano was convicted of two counts of sexual touching and one count of causing a sexual act following a four-day trial in February.

He appeared in the Royal Court yesterday to be sentenced by the Superior Number – which convenes for the most serious offences.

Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, said Romano’s offending came to light when his young victim told her mother that he had showed her his penis.

The girl didn’t understand what had happened to her, but was able to give a “graphic description” to a police officer. Forensic analysis also found Romano’s DNA on the child’s top.

The victim described previous incidents of abuse that involved Romano blindfolding her, but on one occasion she saw the man undoing his jeans and taking out his penis through the material.

Advocate Hallam highlighted that Romano denied the offences and so had put the girl through the ordeal of giving evidence in a trial.

The Crown Advocate suggested a jail sentence of nine years.

But Advocate Paul Nicholls, defending, called a nine-year sentence “manifestly excessive”.

Advocate Nicholls said he accepted that Romano would be sent to prison – but pointed out that an offender found guilty of multiple rapes only a few months ago had received a sentence of nine-and-a-half years.

He asked: “Can this offence really be said to equate to that level of offending? Of course not.”

Jurats decided that Romano should be jailed for eight years and should be placed on the sex offenders’ register for 15 years.

Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq was sitting with Jurats Dulake, Averty, Le Heuze, Opferman and Gardener.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Jenny Docherty said: “The victim has been clear and consistent throughout, and I commend her for her bravery in reporting the crime and giving evidence in court.

“Romano took advantage of age and trust in order to sexually offend against the young victim in this case, the attack was opportunistic and serious.

“Sexual offences against children, who are some of the most vulnerable members of our community, are and always will be of the highest priority for the States of Jersey Police, who will always seek to identify and prosecute those who commit these offences.”