A CHILD rapist is today beginning an 18-year jail term after he was convicted of a string of “horrific” sex offences against two young girls.

Leo Gordon, of Morland Road, Ipswich, was sentenced yesterday after a jury at Norwich Crown Court found him guilty of ten charges.

The 34-year-old had denied six offences of rape relating to a female child, two sex assaults on a girl and two offences of assault on a child.

During yesterday’s hearing the court was told Gordon had admitted two further charges of rape relating to a child, when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on May 11 last year.

Sentencing Gordon, Judge Mark Lucraft said: “This is a pretty horrific case and the facts are even more horrendous.

“You are someone who is keen to avoid the consequences of what you did.”

Judge Lucraft said Gordon’s crimes had left a “deep impact” on his victims – two girls under the age of 14.

Gordon was sentenced to 18 years for each count of rape, four years for each count of sexual assault and six years for the two charges of assault on a child. He was also sentenced to 12 years for the two rape charges he had previously admitted at Ipswich Crown Court.

The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Gordon will serve a total of 18 years – half in custody and half on licence.

He was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Offence Prevention Order, a restraining order, and a disqualification order.

Suffolk police Detective Constable Kay Laney, who was the officer in the case, said: “We are pleased to see that such a lengthy sentence was handed to Mr Gordon.

“This was a very serious case and the sentence sends out a strong message that if you commit offences of this nature you will face a considerable time behind bars.”