A PAEDOPHILE who abused two young girls during the 1980s has been jailed for 15 years.

Peter Davies, 67, of Richmond Close, Llanbradach, Caerphilly, was convicted of a catalogue of historical sex offences following a trial.

A jury found him guilty of 17 charges which included indecent assault and indecency with a child.

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Davies continues to protest his innocence and denies his crimes.

Clare Wilks, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court how the defendant assaulted the girls when he was aged between 29 and 34.

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She read out a victim personal statement written by one of them which said: “This has affected me greatly.

“I have suffered panic attacks, depression and anxiety.”

The prosecutor added how the victim was “intimidated and disgusted” by Davies.

The defendant had previous convictions for sex offences.

He was sentenced to a conditional discharge in 1971 for indecent assault and jailed for eight months in 2009 for sexual assault.

Kevin Seal, for Davies, asked the judge, Recorder Mark Powell QC, to take his client’s age into account when considering the length of the prison sentence.

Outside the court, Detective Constable Gary Fry from Gwent Police said: “This historical case was an appalling sequence of events.

“The victims showed great courage, bravery and determination in coming forward which has seen Davies convicted and a dangerous perpetrator taken out of our communities.

“I hope that seeing him jailed for his crimes has provided them with some closure.”