A MAN serving six years in prison for indecently assaulting a young girl had his sentence extended yesterday by 18 months.

The additional time was imposed after Michael Davies, 38, was convicted of indecency charges, involving two sisters, at Durham Crown Court.

Davies, of Kell Crescent, Sherburn Hill, near Durham, received a six-year sentence from Judge Beatrice Bolton at the court last May, after admitting two counts of indecent assault, involving one girl.

But the court was told as a result of that allegation, sisters, then aged 12 and 13, revealed to a social worker that Davies also indecently touched them.

The court heard that Davies had previously told the girls' mother he would like to have sex with them. Davies denied a charge of indecent assault relating to each of the sisters, plus a further count of inciting one of the sisters to commit an act of gross indecency.

Following a recent change in the law, the jury was informed of Davies' previous similar conviction. His barrister, Mark McKone, in his closing speech to the jury, said just because Davies had an indecent assault conviction on his record, it should not be assumed he had committed further similar offences.

But after two-and-a-half hours' deliberation, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all three charges.

Judge Richard Lowden said the 18-months should be added to the six-year sentence.

Davies is already on the sex offenders' register for life following his earlier conviction.