TWO HAMPSHIRE brothers have been found guilty of sex abuse after three others were acquitted.

Five Elkins brothers were accused of sex offences during a six-week trial at Winchester Crown Court.

David Elkins, 60, faces jail after targeting girls as young as four during eight years of attacks mostly dating to the 1970s.

Anthony Elkins, a 69-year-old steward at Winchester City Football Club, was convicted of indecently assaulting a girl aged between nine and 16 over a similar period.

David Elkins, of Battery Hill, Winchester, broke down in tears this afternoon as the jury convicted him on 13 counts after 32 hours of deliberation.

He abused three underage girls, including one between the ages of four and eight and another between six and 10, the jury found.

Between 1969 and 1975, Elkins took pictures of a third girl in sexual positions and attacked her after offering sweets and chocolate, prosecutors said. His victims cannot be named for legal reasons.

Derek Elkins, 66, and Richard Elkins, 64, were cleared of sex attacks on a young girl midway through the trial because prosecutors were unable to prove the age of the alleged victim, crucial to the charges.

A fifth brother, 62-year-old Michael Elkins, of Fleming Road, Harestock, was acquitted on Friday of sexually assaulting one of the alleged victims as an adult.

The Daily Echo was unable to report the acquittals at the time due to a court order by Judge Susan Evans QC.

Jurors acquitted David Elkins of attempted rape and could not reach verdicts on two indecent assault charges. The judge said he would "almost certainly" face an immediate prison sentence.

Anthony Elkins, of St Catherine's Road, Winchester, attacked a girl between 1968 and 1975. The woman made allegations against all five brothers in the trial as well as a sixth, Stewart Elkins, who was also charged but died in August.

The public gallery was closed for the verdict after the jury raised security concerns.

On several occasions more than 20 people were in the gallery, including friends of the alleged victims, while around 10 relatives accompanied the brothers in court every day during deliberation.

The judge offered jurors a secure room to stay in until guards confirmed those in the public gallery had left the building. They were also offered escort by security to their cars and public transport.

David Elkins was remanded in custody while Anthony Elkins was conditionally bailed. Both will be sentenced on November 20.

The Winchester brothers are five of 15 siblings.