A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for seven years after being found guilty of abusing two children.

Peter Edwards targeted the pair on several occasions more than a decade ago.

At the time of the abuse the police investigated complaints against the 46-year-old, of Broadway West, Redcar, but decided to take no further action, Teesside Crown Court heard today (Thursday, March 27).

Hilary Manley, prosecuting, said the abuse had wrecked the lives of the victims.

In their victim impact statements, which were read out in court, both said they were still struggling to come to terms with what happened to them as children.

In mitigation Nigel Soppitt described his client as naive and childlike while lacking a sense of cunning.

Judge Bowers sentenced Edwards to seven years in prison for four counts of indecent assault and two charges of gross indecency.

He said: "I could not possibly suspend the sentence because of the number of offences and the effect they have had."