A BASINGSTOKE man has been jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of sexual offences against three children.

Steven Mark Beddoes, of St Peter's Road, South Ham, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday November 18, after a jury found the 46-year-old guilty in August at the end of his trial.

He was found guilty of 23 of the 24 offences he had denied.

The offences included rape, attempted rape, indecent assault and indecency with a children. 

The court heard that Beddoes sexually assaulted three children - two girls and a boy - in the Basingstoke area during a period between 1999 and 2014.

On Friday, Judge Susan Evans sentenced Beddoes to 20 years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of six years.

He was also ordered to be placed on the sexual offenders register for life.

A joint investigation was carried out into Beddoes’ offending by Hampshire Constabulary’s Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) and Basingstoke CID.

Detective Constable Timothy McSpadden, of CAIT, and Detective Constable Alex Hall, of Basingstoke CID, said: “The sentence handed down reflects the gravity of the offences committed by Steven Beddoes and how seriously the court takes these matters. 

“The victims in this case have been very courageous in both speaking to the police and giving evidence in court. 

“By doing this they have allowed justice to be served and have prevented Beddoes from causing any more harm to the most vulnerable people in our society. 

“The police and the CPS would not be able to prosecute Steven Beddoes if it had not been for the bravery of the victims coming forward. We would like to thank them for speaking to us and trusting us to help them."