A 49-year-old man has been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of six historic sexual offences against two girls, one of whom was only eight at the time.

Anthony Nash, of Oakworth Road, Keighley, was found guilty of three charges of indecent assault, two charges of sexual assault of a child under 13 years and one of attempted sexual assault.

The offences on the two girls, aged from eight to 12 at the time they occurred, took place between 1995 and 2002, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Nash was also given a sexual offences prevention order, meaning he must be supervised by an adult in any contact he has with any girl under 16. He must adhere to the Sexual Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

Sentencing Nash, Judge David Hatton QC told him: “You had no thought or concern about the effects such conduct would have on the minds of your victims.

“The fact is it had a very considerable effect on their minds. They each kept these matters locked away for many years, for fear of causing pain to others. They should not believe that they were instrumental in causing that heartbreaking pain. They were not, you were.”

After the case, Detective Constable Ellen Allen, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Nash took advantage of his victims’ young ages, one of whom was just eight years old when she was abused, to carry out these sexual assaults.

“We welcome the sentence handed down by the court today, and hope it will help to give the victims some closure. We also hope it will encourage others to come forward and make contact with the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, whose team of specially trained officers will investigate every report of sexual abuse, no matter how historic, with the aim of securing a conviction.”