An elderly couple who carried out horrific sexual offences against children more than 35 years ago have been jailed.

Wheelchair-bound Richard Winfield, 90, and his wife Pauline, 82, were locked up today for crimes committed in Ashford in the 1970s and 1980s.

As his wife was led to the cells, Mr Winfield - who has been told he has less than a year to live - shouted to the judge: "She didn't do anything - we didn't do anything."

But a jury in Maidstone last month rejected the couple's claims of innocence over the series of vile attacks.

Mr Winfield committed indecent assaults on two children, while his wife took part in offences against one.

The indecency against the first victim - who was aged under 10 - took place in the 1970s, while the offences against the second - a teenager - were carried out in the 1980s.

Complaints were first made to police in 2005 but the case was later shelved.

However, the Winfields, both of White Horse Lane in Rhodes Minnis, near Canterbury, were arrested in 2018 after further allegations were made.

Charges were brought in April 2020 after officers tracked down witnesses who corroborated parts of the victims' evidence.

One victim revealed in a statement read to court how the abuse has impacted their life.

"I trust no one, always believing they have an alternative motive," they said.

"I constantly look to the bad in people, searching for honesty and good.

"This is a legacy I never asked for or wanted. My life has been marred by feeling isolated and lonely, never knowing who to turn to.

"It has been a long, hard road and has taken all my reserves and courage to trust anyone.

"Now all I want is to be heard and this dark cloud lifted from me. I want to be seen as a survivor and not a victim. I deserve justice."

The jury found Richard Winfield guilty of 15 sex offences against children and his wife of seven.

Richard Winfield's barrister, John Cammegh KC, asked Judge Catherine Brown to pass a "humane" prison sentence for his client, who has cancer and issues with his heart and kidneys.

"He is a severely frail individual," he argued. "He is 90 and unlikely to live for very much longer.

"The couple said their final goodbyes before they came into court. It is a very sad occasion."

Jailing Richard Winfield for 10 years and his wife for five, the judge told them: "I believe both of you derived sexual gratification and excitement from what a child was made to do.

"In 2005 one of your victims reported what you had done and there was your opportunity to come clean, but you chose not to and the case went nowhere."

Investigating police officer DC Antony White said: "I would like to pay tribute to the victims in this case, for coming forward and informing police, and for giving evidence when the Winfields refused to admit their criminal actions.

"I hope this case sends out a message that there is no time limit on justice and we will bring before the courts anyone who would commit despicable offences like these."