The woman called police after she recognised smiling Graham Cooper as the man who attacked her during her childhood 30 years ago.

Cooper, 69, was nominated by his wife to carry the Olympic flame through his home town Aldington in Kent last summer.

The butcher was a member of the church choir and a respected member of the local community due to his charity work.

But he now faces jail after admitting two counts of indecent assault on a female under 14 and one count of gross indecency with a female aged under 14.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court also found him guilty of an additional count of indecent assault.

His victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, called police after she saw footage of Cooper participating in the Olympic torch relay in July last year.

Her previous complaints had fallen on deaf ears, but she decided to contact officers again.

Cooper was brought in for questioning and he admitted three of his vile acts.

While giving evidence, the woman revealed she had lived in fear of "bumping into" Cooper before seeing his face on TV.

She said: "I was thinking how could this happen? I looked things up on the internet. How could this person be chosen?

"This man abused me. I read on the internet about him and why he was nominated, his charity work, singing in a local choir, raising money for local projects.

"It said he was always cheerful. I read about him over and over again, about him going to the church and thought is he going there to repent or what?"

     

Judge Adele Williams warned Cooper he will face jail for his crimes.

The grandfather-of-four had claimed during his five-day trial that his young child victim initiated sexual contact.

He said: "I feel very sorry. I am shameful. It shouldn't have happened.

"I have regretted it for 30 years."

He was cleared of two further allegations of indecent assault on a female under 14 and found not guilty of the rape of a girl under the age of 16.

Speaking at the time he was chosen as a torchbearer, he said: "It's such an honour and a privilege to have been chosen, I'm really looking forward to it.

"I was brought up to do things to help people - that's just how it is. I think it's going to be unbelievable."

His wife Sylvia, 62, had described herself as "immensely proud" of her husband.

Cooper was released on bail and will be sentenced later this month.