A Lancing man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting children.

Adrian Lovell, 42, of Tower Road, was convicted of committing indecent assault eight times and indecency with a child between 1985 and 1986.

The victims, who cannot be named, only decided to press charges 16 years later.

Lovell denied the allegations but a jury found him guilty on November 7, this year.

At a sentencing hearing in Chichester Crown Court yesterday, Philip Wakeham, mitigating, said his client was a "pathetic figure" who would not cope well in prison.

Mr Wakeham said: "You may see him as a man in denial about his past and a man like that must present a threat to children but, given the lack of any criminal convictions over many years, whatever motivated him to behave in this fashion is something he is able to police himself."

Lovell, who has worked for Whitbread Plc for more than 12 years, used to live with his mother but she died during the court proceedings.

In sentencing, Judge John Sessions spoke about the impact the assaults had on the victims, both emotional and psychological.

Lovell was also disqualified from working with children indefinitely.