A VALLEYS man was found guilty of sexually assaulting two young girls.

Vernon Cleverly, of Llwyn-on Crescent, Oakdale, was convicted of five counts of indecent assault on two girls - some dating from the 1980s. He was found not guilty of one further count of the same alleged offence at the hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.

Cleverly, 58, who is the uncle of Welsh boxing champion Nathan Cleverly, was remanded in custody by Judge Phillip Richards for his "very unpleasant crimes" until he is sentenced later this month.

His defence barrister Ieuan Rees, said Cleverly knew a prison sentence was "probably inevitable".

During his trial the court heard his two victims, who had never met before the trial, were young girls when the abuse took place.

The first woman claimed Cleverly lay on top of her and touched her after inviting her to look at a teddy bear and told her to keep it a secret.

The second woman said Cleverly kissed her and made her touch him.

It was only later when the second woman reported the abuse to police after she saw Cleverly at a party, that officers were let to the first victim.

But Cleverly maintained his innocence through his trail, insisting he had never been alone with the girls.

Family members of the victims, who cannot be named, cried and let out gasps of relief as the verdicts were read out.

One man said afterwards: "After years of upset we are so pleased that we have finally got justice."

Cleverly has previously served six months in prison for a similar offence after he was convicted of indecently assaulting a girl under 16 on December 13, 1995.

He will be sentenced for his latest crimes on March 21.