A TWO-year old baby was one of 508 youngsters reported to have been a victim of a sexual offence in the county last year, new figures show.

Children's charity NSPCC, which obtained the statistics under the Freedom of Information Act, said the "grim" figures show just a "snapshot" of suffering endured by under-18s.

The victims included nine three-year-olds, and 107 aged ten or under.

Essex Police charged 129 people with a sexual offence, and cautioned 30.

The offenders were aged between ten and 77.

Phillip Noyes, director of public policy at the NSPCC, said: "It's a grim picture but this is only a snapshot, as our research indicates there are many more abused children whose suffering never comes to light."

Essex Police said sexual offences are "deplorable" and "shocking", and that it remains committed to working with partners to protecting local children.

The statistics show that nationally there were 20,758 children recorded as victims of sex crimes including rape, gross indecency and incest.

Out of the 43 forces, Essex had the 14th-highest number of complaints.