A PAEDOPHILE who preyed on three children has been jailed for 18 years.

Peter Gillett was convicted of raping a young girl when she was between the ages of 13 and 15.

One of the charges included multiple rapes against the teenager, along with indecent assault, and an assault that caused her actual bodily harm.

The self-employed 59-year-old was also convicted child cruelty and gross indecency towards a boy aged between eight and 15, and indecent assault against a girl aged between 13 and 15.

Lewes Crown Court heard that the offences against the children, who were known to him, took place between 1988 and 1996.

He also stood trial for possessing a stun gun at his home in Arundel Road in Littlehampton when police arrested him in 2016.

Read more: Police feared for their life when they tackled knife-wielding thug

Detective Constable Rees Hopcraft said: “These offences came to light in 2016 when the two girls, by then in their forties, contacted us after learning of online postings suggesting that Gillett had committed sexual offences against the boy.

“We investigated and gradually uncovered a series of offences of sexual abuse by him against all three victims when they were young and vulnerable children, over a period of years.

The Argus:

“All three gave evidence against him and after a long trial, during which Gillett discharged his counsel and defended himself, the jury found him guilty of the sexual offences.

“We will always take seriously and follow up such reports, regardless of how long ago the events are said to have occurred.”

Read more: Gangs recruiting children to sell drugs at The Level

At his trial in February, he was found not guilty of a further rape and indecent assault against the first girl, and one charge of indecent assault against the boy.

He was jailed for 18 years for the offences, and for one year concurrent for possessing the stun gun.

Victims of rape and serious sexual assault can report crimes and get support from the police by visiting www.sussex.police.uk/rasso.