A PAEDOPHILE from Redditch who sexually abused two girls has been jailed.

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 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.

In the case of the 12-year-old girl, Kannan Siva, prosecuting, said Perry had offered her chocolate bars, returning to the shop with her ‘favourite one’.

He said the aggravating features were breach of trust, grooming, an element of planning.

One girl said the experience caused her ‘considerable stress and anxiety’, describing the process as ‘extremely difficult’.

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.

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 his parents who had suffered ill-health.

Deputy circuit judge Phillip Wassall said in his sentencing remarks that the girls had viewed Perry '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 took into account the 'prolonged' and 'invasive' nature of the offences themselves and jailed Perry for seven years, but added an extra year because it was a protective sentence.

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.