A MAN has been jailed for 22 years for sex offences against children, some of which took place at properties in Basingstoke.

Robert Ratcliffe received the sentence at Reading Crown Court, after being found guilty by a jury of 12 sexual offences, including rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.

The offences took place between December 1980 and May 1999 at properties in Basingstoke and Reading.

Ratcliffe abused a girl when she was aged between eight and 11-years-old, a boy between the ages of four and six, and a girl between six and eight.

The 49-year-old, of Rowan Road, West Drayton, west London, had denied the offences and was found guilty during an eight-day trial in September.

After the sentencing hearing, investigating officer Detective Constable Melanie Brown, from Thames Valley Police, said Ratcliffe’s crimes were of “the most serious degree”.

She added: “He deliberately took advantage of children as young as four in order to satisfy his own sexual gratification.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the three victims in this case for having the bravery to come to court and give evidence against him. It is because of their courage that he is now facing a long time behind bars.”

Adrian Foster, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The emotional impact on the victims and their families of the abhorrent actions of this man is impossible to quantify. I hope that the conviction and sentence gives some small comfort to them.”