A MAN who systematically abused two girls about 20 years apart has been jailed for 10 years and two months.

Eric Pyle's two victims came forward after hearing he was being investigated for downloading images of child abuse from the internet.

And the 61-year-old tried to 'create a smokescreen' for his offending by showing a lack of empathy for his victims, Swindon Crown Court was told.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said the police initially received reports that his computer was being used for accessing indecent images of children.

After they searched his home in April last year, when they found he had been searching for the material, the first victim came forward.

She told how he used to abuse her at his West Swindon home in the early 1990s, when she was an eight-year-old primary school student.

And a second girl came forwards with her mother to tell police how Pyle had abused her in an almost identical way in more recent years.

As well as touching her and getting her to touch him he also showed the younger girl pornography.

When he was questioned he accepted he had abused the girls telling police 'he had no relationship as such with his wife'.

Pyle, of Stansfield Close, Toothill, admitted 12 sex offences against the children and three counts of making indecent images of children.

Mike Jeary, defending, said that his client accepted that he was facing a lengthy jail term for what he had done.

Although he had pleaded guilty to the matters he said it was clear from the pre-sentence report that he 'lacked empathy' for his victims

"He just does not seem to understand how terrible it is. He can't get it through his head," he told the court.

"You are going to protect him against repeating it. The risk of serious harm is in that report.

"If you are a pre-pubescent girl you are at risk. Any child of that age group is at risk. Until the parole board are satisfied that is not going to happen."

He said that when he entered his pleas at the magistrates court he said he was sorry for what he had done.

Jailing him Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "What you did to them, the way you abused them, was systematic and prolonged.

"You have expressed your remorse to a degree. I find it difficult to assess how remorseful you are.

"Your remorse is not profound. I find the way you have expressed to the probation officer whether it is genuine.

"The effect on them is devastating. I have read the statements they both made. It remains that they will probably never recover from which you did.

"This all comes from when the police examined the contents of your computer. That revealed that you were regularly searching for images on the internet of prepubescent children.

"You are 61 and until today you have had convictions but that fact has to be looked at in the light that you have been abusing the two girls over a period of more than 25 years and looking at indecent images for seven years.

"The pre-sentence report, I take that into account but I do not accept everything that is said about you.

"The reason you have given to the probation officer for doing what you did defies belief and it undermines any remorse that you express.

"You are only concerned about yourself rather than the effect of what you did to those children.

"If what you said in the probation report, if it were true, that in my judgement increases your culpability and you have no answer to the harm you have caused.

"You showed no real insight in to what you have done Instead you have tried to create a smokescreen."

Detective Constable Nicola Ainsley, of Wiltshire Police, said: “We welcome this sentencing as it reflects the seriousness of these offences and the impact they have had on the children involved.

“I'd like to thank each of the victims for their bravery in coming forward and recounting what is obviously a very distressing and traumatic time in their lives.

"Although nothing will erase the awful memories and the long lasting affects Pyle's abuse has no doubt had on his victims, I hope it gives them some form of closure and enables them to move on with their lives knowing justice has been done.

“I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may have been a victim of sex abuse, regardless of how much time has passed, to report it to police.

"We will investigate, provide you with the full support you need, and do all that we can to bring to justice offenders like Pyle.”

Police can be contacted on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Victims can also seek support and counselling from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) based at the New Swindon Sanctuary, which has a 24-hour helpline: 0808 168 0024.

An NSPCC spokesperson for South West England said: “There is no doubt that Pyle is a prolific child sex offender, responsible for numerous attacks on two children and making indecent images.

“His victims must be praised for their enormous bravery in speaking out. Thanks to their actions, Pyle is now behind bars where he cannot hurt any more children.

“Abuse can ruin childhoods and affect individuals into adulthood, so it’s vital anyone affected can access the support they need rather than suffer in silence, as sadly so many do.”

Childline, 0800 1111, is available 24/7 to offer confidential advice. Meanwhile, adults concerned about a child’s welfare can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.