A father and son have been jailed for a total of 15 years for sexual offences against young children.

Patrick Pearless, of Dymchurch Road in New Romney, was convicted of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of fourteen.

At Hove Crown Court yesterday the 75-year-old was jailed for three years in jail for the offences.

His son, David Pearless, from Horsham, will also be a registered sex offender.

The 48-year-old, of Macleod Road in Horsham, was sentenced to 12 years for 10 counts, including multiple counts of indecent assault on the same girl, inciting another girl under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency and indecent assault on a young boy.

All of the offences took place at an address in Thakeham, West Sussex, where the pair lived in the early 1990s.

DC Jason Berney said: "This has been an extremely lengthy investigation and prosecution process, taking nearly three years to get this result.

"The case was a truly awful one, and I am delighted for all the victims who have been incredibly brave in coming forward and enduring such a lengthy investigation, and giving evidence in court, which led to them getting the justice that they deserve.

"Both men got to know the children in the area where they then lived, and exploited them for their own sexual gratification.

"These serious crimes came to our notice for first time in 2016 when we received information about offending against one of the victims. Our enquiries then uncovered evidence of the wider offending by both men.

"This case shows once again how we always investigate and seek to get justice for victims, no matter how long ago the events took place.

"If you have been the victim of physical or sexual abuse, or known of someone who has, you can contact the police at any time either online or by calling 101, and arrange to talk in confidence to experienced investigators."

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