A Canadian paedophile has been jailed for three years and three months in Thailand for sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy.

Schoolteacher Christopher Neil was arrested in Thailand after the international police agency Interpol unscrambled swirled digital images of him allegedly engaged in sexual acts with young boys.

Investigators received hundreds of tip-offs which led to Neil's arrest in October last year.

The Thai court also imposed a 60,000 baht (£960) fine on the 32-year-old, who had pleaded guilty on May 12.

His initial sentence of six years and six months was reduced by the court because of Neil's plea.

Neil still faces similar charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, involving the younger brother of the 13-year-old victim.

In that case, he faces up to 20 years in jail for charges that include sexually abusing a minor, videotaping the alleged abuse, taking a child without parental consent and holding him against his will.

The child, who was just nine at the time, claims Neil paid £8 to £16 to perform a serious sexual assault on him in 2003.

That trial resumes on October 7.

"OK," was Neil's only comment to reporters after the verdict was read.

His interpreter said Neil, dressed in a prison uniform and wearing ankle chains, would not appeal.

Rosalind Prober, president of the Canadian child rights group Beyond Borders, said: "This is the first, baby step for Christopher Neil in terms of having him held accountable for the international sex crimes he is accused of committing."

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