A bus driver who groomed and sexually abused two young girls has been jailed for 18 years.

One of Matthew Jenkins’ victims bravely told how she tried to take her own life and has been left with issues sleeping and eating because of his sick actions.

The 34-year-old, who admitted to having an interest in young girls, subjected both his victims to several sexual assaults over the course of six years.

He was also found to have 354 indecent images of children – including of one of the victims – on his electronic devices.

Jenkins, of St George’s Crescent, Gravesend, pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges in August, including sexual assault of a child under 13, sexual activity in front of a child and the rape of a child.

Other charges related to indecent images which were found on his phone following his arrest.

He appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced.

Prosecutor Neil King told the court the abuse only came to an end when a conversation between the defendant and the youngest victim, which included an explicit picture, was found by the girl’s mother.

Mr King explained: “Jenkins told the mum: ‘I’m so very sorry, this should never have happened.”

It was revealed how the victim and Jenkins exchanged hundreds of messages on WhatsApp, in which they would share explicit pictures and messages about sex.

The court was told Jenkins would take any opportunity possible to commit a sexual offence, and text the child: “The thought of getting caught turns me on a bit.”

A victim impact statement read in court detailed how one of the victims – while not yet a teenager - had to take a pregnancy test.

It continued: “When he sexually assaulted me I pushed him away. I couldn’t eat or sleep, I would just sit and stare.

“I’ve had thoughts of killing myself, self-harming and have anxiety and panic attacks and stopped eating.

“I hated everyone and didn’t want to be around anyone because of him.

“I’m going to suffer with what he has done for the rest of my life.”

The mother of one of the victims also gave an impact statement, explaining how she had been left physically and mentally drained by the ordeal.

‘He has torn our whole world apart…’

Defending, Ravinder Saimbhi said Jenkins had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and prevented any further stress on the family and victims at a trial.

She said: “The defendant has deep shame and genuine remorse for what he has done.

“He admits there is clearly an issue for him in terms of having an interest in young children.”

Ms Saimbhi added that Jenkins knew he would be facing a custodial sentence and would “make use of the time to face his demons”.

Sentencing Jenkins, Judge David Miller said he had committed a “campaign of abuse against two little girls”.

He added: “You groomed both girls and you took photos of one victim and sexually communicated with her, making her think it was normal.

“This has had a devastating impact on the family and only you should feel guilty for what has happened.”

Judge Miller said the Gravesend man, who drove buses at multiple companies around Kent, was a “dangerous offender who poses serious harm to children and has a sexual interest in prepubescent children”.

Jenkins was sentenced to 18 years in prison and ordered to serve an extended licence for eight years.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will remain in place until a further order. He cannot have contact with any children under the age of 16.

Speaking after sentencing, the distraught mum of one of his victims said: “It will most probably take the best part of a lifetime to rebuild the horrible things he has subjected these girls to.

“We hope that one day our family will be stronger than ever before.

“I believe the sentencing was fair and I’m glad the judge saw he had groomed them. He has torn our whole world apart.”

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jack Evans said: “Jenkins is a manipulative predator who abused young children for his own sexual gratification.

“His depraved actions will have a lasting impact on the victims and I would like to commend their courage in reporting the abuse to the police.

“I hope the fact that he is now serving a lengthy sentence allows those he targeted to move on from their appalling ordeal.”