A Southampton man who regulary sexually abused two girls has been locked up for 20 years.

Simon Haddon was convicted of nine counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child, and three specimen charges of rape against one of them.

“This was a dreadful and systematic sexual abuse of a very high order,” Judge Derwin Hope told the 51-year-old.

“Her impact statement speaks not only of the physical pain you caused her over the years but also the psychological damage you have done to her and how you robbed her of her childhood.

“It is said you seemed to be trying to paint yourself as the victim in this case. Nothing can be further from the truth.”

Haddon, of Bluebell Road, Bassett, was also convicted of five charges of indecent assault on the other girl.

He was arrested after one victim told her mother.

She in turn informed the girl’s boyfriend and he spoke to her mother who called in the police.

Haddon, who denied the allegations, was also banned from working with children and under the terms of a sexual offences prevention order cannot be left alone wth a girl, both for indefinite periods.

After the case Detective Constable Wendy Rogers said: “I would like to commend the strength of the victims and witnesses in this case, who together have ensured that this individual has been made to answer for his crimes.

“I would also like to thank the Independent Sexual Violence Advisers from Southampton Rape Crisis for their assistance and support.”

The Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA) team spokesperson Tracey Stovold added: “It takes an enormous amount of courage for victims to come forward and report these types of offences and they often do so not just to see justice being done but in the interests of protecting others.”