A man who committed “monstrous” sex crimes against two young girls when he was an isolated teenager growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness in Bradford has been jailed for two and a half years.

Justin Leleux, 27, sexually abused the children when he was aged 14 to 17, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

The older girl was about six and the younger child around three years old when he stripped naked to play “secret games” with them. Leleux, now of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, pleaded guilty to five offences of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child when he lived in the Bradford area in the late 1990s.

Married with two sons, he was arrested when the girls, now teenagers, told the police what he had done.

The girls said Leleux got into the shower with them and sexually assaulted them in bed.

He told them not to tell their parents and shouted at them if they refused his perverted demands.

The court heard that one girl had since ‘closed down’ about the abuse while the other was very emotional.

Leleux’s barrister, Charlotte Holland, said he had pleaded guilty and made full admissions.

He had particular difficulties as a teenager and felt “excluded and isolated” growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Miss Holland added: “This is not an excuse for his monstrous behaviour.”

Leleux had never been in any trouble since leaving home at 17. Miss Holland said: His abuse of the trust placed in him has had devastating consequences on the girls and their families.

“He doesn’t seek anyone’s pity, he feels disgust for his actions.”

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said Leleux was now a “civilised and successful man”.

He had led a blameless life since committing the offences.

But he had systematically and repeatedly taken cruel advantage of two vulnerable young girls, leaving them mentally scarred for life.

The judge told Leleux: “You, I am sorry to say, must go to prison for these crimes.

“There has to be a repayment by you and a lesson learned by others.”

Judge Durham Hall made a sexual offences prevention order banning Leleux from any unsupervised contact with children, except for his own sons.

He must sign on with the police as a sex offender for seven years.