A 76-year-old man has been jailed for 14 years for abusing children more than 30 years ago.

Sidney Thorpe, 76, was found guilty of ten rapes, eight indecent assaults, three counts of child cruelty and one count of gross indecency between 1965 and 1980.

He was sentenced at Hove Crown Court today to a total of 14 years in prison.

Thorpe, formerly of Brighton, was living in Newhaven when he was charged.

His victims were two girls and a boy aged between four and 16 at the time.

Detective Inspector Rachel Bacon said: "This sentencing of Thorpe brings to an end a protracted and complex police enquiry which started two years ago when the victims contacted us.

"We hope that the outcome will go some way to assist the victims to reconcile what they endured as children.

"Instead of having happy childhoods, their innocence was taken away from them in the cruellest of fashions, about which they blamed themselves for many years.

"Sussex Police will continue to investigate all cases of child abuse, regardless of how long ago the offences occurred and will always be tenacious in our efforts bring the perpetrators to justice.