A MAN has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two young girls over a number of years.

Ceri Camp, 47, of Caen Hill Gardens, Devizes, was found guilty of 14 multiple counts of indecent assault and two multiple counts of rape at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, August 4, and was sentenced on the same day.

The offences started in 1994 when the girls were just six and eight years old.

He will also be placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Det Con Paula Manley said: "We welcome this sentencing, as it reflects the seriousness of these offences and the impact they have had on those 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 effects Camp's abuse has 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 Camp.”

Police can be contact 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 - they can be contacted on the 24-hour helpline 0808 168 0024.

This centre is available to support victims across Wiltshire.

An NSPCC spokesperson for South West England said: “Camp’s sickening offences represent an extremely serious case of child sexual abuse and it’s right that he’s now behind bars.

“He acted with no regard for the effect his behaviour would have on his victims.

“His extensive and appalling crimes robbed his defenceless victims of their childhood and will have a lasting impact well into their adult years.”

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person call the NSPCC Helpline for free, 24/7, on 0808 800 5000. Meanwhile, children can call Childline on 0800 1111.