A PENSIONER has been jailed for more than three years after admitting sexually abusing two young girls decades ago.

William Parry finally owned up to his perverted behaviour on the day he was due to stand trial charged with a catalogue of indecent assaults against him.

The 86-year-old carried out the assaults between the 70s and 90s while he was living around the Teesside area in Eston and Guisborough, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said the sexual abuse had a life-long impact on the victims and only came to light five years ago when Parry was confronted about his deviant behaviour.

Parry, of The Toose, Yeovil, pleaded guilty to six charges of indecent assault on the two children who were under 16 at the time of the abuse.

The Northern Echo: William ParryWilliam Parry

Andrew Rutter, in mitigation, accepted his client had only pleaded guilty at the last minute but deserved credit for not putting the victims through a trial.

Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Parry to three years and seven months.

"You lacked the courage to face up to what you had done," he said. "You lacked the courage right up until the day of trial.

"These matters were reported in 2018 and here we are in 2021 finally reaching sentence.

"The victim personal statements make it clear that has been a hugely distressing period of time."

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