A pervert who sexually abused two girls has been jailed for 15 years.

Billy Evans, of St George's Avenue, Sheerness, denied committing the offences dating back several years, but was unanimously convicted by a jury last month.

Maidstone Crown Court heard today the 28-year-old continues to maintain his innocence.

He was found guilty of three charges of rape, three of indecent assault, three of sexual assault, one of indecency with a child and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Deborah Charles told Maidstone Crown Court Evans asked one of the girls if she wanted to play a game and then touched her sexually. He warned if she told anyone something bad would happen.

Evans molested her on other occasions and got her to touch him after forcing her to undress. She later told police how he pinned her down and raped her.

The second victim was to break down and reveal that Evans had done "rude things" to her. She did not tell anyone, she said, because he threatened to kill her mother.

Miss Charles said the girl found it difficult to tell police officers what happened, so she wrote it down.

She said Evans committed sex acts on her and made her perform acts on him, including oral rape.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC decided against imposing an indefinite jail sentence for public protection.

"I note you remain in denial and lack victim empathy," he told Evans. "Your behaviour was bound to cause them serious psychological trauma and the effects are likely to endure for a number of years.

"Their evidence was utterly compelling. I have read their heart-rending personal statements."

The long sentence was greeted with applause from the public gallery. One victim shouted at Evans: "I hope you suffer like you made us suffer."

He will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.