A pervert who sexually abused two young girls has been jailed for almost 20 years.
Paedophile Kenneth Booth assaulted the youngsters – who were aged just five and seven when the abuse started - at addresses in Chorley and Longridge between 1995 and 2019.
His twisted crimes were brought to light after one of his victims bravely came forward to report to police what had happened to her.
And following a police investigation Booth, now 66, was charged with numerous offences.
Booth, formerly of Towneley Road, Longridge, pleaded guilty in October last year to charges of indecent assault on a girl x3, gross indecency on a girl under 14 x4, assault by penetration on a girl under 13, cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity - no penetration, assault by touching x2, and sexual assault on a female.
He appeared before Preston Crown Court on Monday and was sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison with an extended licence of eight years.
Det Con Vicky Fass, of Lancashire Police’s Child Protection Team, said: “First and foremost I would like to commend the victims in this case for having the courage to come forward and speak about what happened to them at the hands of Booth. That cannot have been easy, and I hope that this sentence gives them some sense that justice has been done.
“Booth is clearly a sexual predator with a propensity towards young girls, and this significant sentence will see him off the streets and away from children for a long time.
“I hope that this conviction and sentence may give others who have suffered similar abuse the confidence to come forward and report it in the knowledge we will investigate professionally and with sensitivity.”
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