A PAEDOPHILE who sexually abused two girls has been jailed after a judge imposed a longer prison sentence to protect the public.

Andrew Perry was convicted of abusing the two girls aged 12 and 10 after denying the offences during his trial at Worcester Crown Court.

The 52-year-old of Dilwyn Close, Redditch, was convicted of sexual assault of a child under 13 and assault by penetration against his first victim.

The jury further convicted him of two counts of sexual assault and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity against a second victim.

Kannan Siva, prosecuting, said the 12-year-old woke up to found her onesie undone through the Crown was not able to prove there had been a specific act. During a second incident later in 2015 she woke up to find he was performing a sex act on her using his fingers while rubbing her breasts with the other hand.

Mr Siva said it was an aggravating factor that Perry had offered her chocolate bars, returning to the shop with her ‘favourite one’.

Another girl, aged 10, was also abused. Perry touched her chest over clothing and she remembered him trying to take her clothes off, Mr Siva said. He also lay on top her of naked though no penetration took place.

“She was invited to touch his private parts” said Mr Siva. However, she refused to do so.

Mr Siva said the most serious count or lead offence was that of digital penetration.

He said the aggravating features were breach of trust, grooming, an element of planning and the considerable disparity in age between Perry and his victims.

Mr Siva also summarised the victim personal statements of both girls. One said the experience caused her ‘considerable stress and anxiety’, describing the process as ‘extremely difficult’.

He said: “She does not wish to be around strangers and is worried and anxious about being contacted by the defendant in due course.”

The other victim was described as being ‘angry’ but ‘did not know why’ and felt she was ‘looking over her shoulder’.

Jason Aris, defending, said the former milkman, taxi driver and HGV driver suffered from health problems, including a heart murmur diagnosed seven years ago. He made reference to Perry collapsing during a previous stage of the case. As a result the judge allowed Perry to remain seated throughout the sentencing hearing.

Mr Aris said: “This is going to be his first custodial sentence. He has tried to lead a law-abiding life.”

Mr Aris also said he had adopted a caring role towards members of his family including his parents who had suffered ill-health.

Deputy circuit judge Phillip Wassall said in his sentencing remarks that the girls had viewed Perry 'a bit like a grandfather'.

He said: "These were offences where you built up trust. There had been grooming. Having built up that trust you went on to take advantage of that, assaulting the girls in the way that you did."

The judge said Perry had even encouraged one of the girls to shave her private parts, telling her she would find it 'more comfortable', which he said illustrated the extent of the grooming.

He also took into account the 'prolonged' and 'invasive' nature of the offences themselves.

The judge jailed Perry for seven years but, because it was a protective sentence, added an extra year which took the total sentence to eight years.

Perry is not automatically eligible for release at the halfway point of his sentence.

A sexual harm prevention order was also made which prevents Perry having any contact with children under the age of 16 other than that which is inadvertent or unavoidable in the course of daily life.

This was made for a period of 10 years from the date of the court hearing. Perry must also register for life as a sex offender.