A PAEDOPHILE who carried out “dreadful” attacks on young girls over nearly three decades has been jailed.

Alan Cousins, of South Avenue in Brighton, carried out the attacks on the girls from 1971 to the late 1990s.

His offences included rape and other sexual assaults, as well as incitement to commit sexual offences of five girls aged between seven and 16 who he knew in the city during the period.

The 61-year-old also had indecent images of children on his home computer when he was arrested.

He admitted six counts of possessing and making the indecent images in April this year. The images were all from the internet and none involved the girls involved or other children known to him.

At Hove Crown Court, Judge Paul Tain sentenced him to 25 years in prison and called Cousins a “significant risk” to the public.

He had been found guilty of 22 offences after an eight-day trial on Wednesday.

The judge said: “This sentencing reflects your dreadful attacks on little girls. The whole of your evidence was a pack of lies.”

After the case Detective Constable Stewart Cameron described how Cousins had ruined the lives of his victims.

He said: “This investigation began in 2014 after one of Cousins' victims spoke to us. We then traced four further victims who disclosed the worst offences.

“Throughout the investigation he has shown no remorse and refused to accept that he has ruined lives.

“The victims have shown immense bravery and fortitude, with our support, and gave clear accounts of the abuse they suffered at his hands.

“Today justice has been done."