A 65-YEAR-old man has been jailed for a string of child sex offences against two young girls.

Lloyd Dorward, of Wasborough Avenue, Wantage, pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual offences against the children, the youngest a toddler at the time.

At his sentencing at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Alexandra Bull, prosecuting, said Dorward had committed the acts while babysitting the girls in their own home.

She said the oldest girl, who was between five and six years old, would be kissed on the mouth, told to dance while he watched and was also repeatedly sexually abused in her genitalia.

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Ms Bull read out impact statements from the girls, who were sat in court.

The oldest victim wrote she felt 'humiliated and embarrassed' by what happened, which she had not understood fully at the time, and was left with nightmares and panic attacks.

The younger also had panic attacks and said she struggled to trust people and control her emotions.

The full charges were three counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13, three counts of assault by penetration of a girl under 13, and one count of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Nigel Daly, sentencing Dorward to nine and a half years in prison, with an extended one year licence, said he had been in a position of trust as a babysitter which he had exploited to groom and abuse the girls.