A DANGEROUS predator who groomed young girls in a “campaign of sexual abuse” has been jailed for eight years.

“Cowardly” Timothy Rolfe, 63, was handed the term with a four-year extended licence after he pleaded guilty to a raft of sexual offences.

Rolfe, of Downlands Way, South Wonston, abused the trust of the girls’ family to take advantage of his two victims, children under the age of 13, between 2015 and 2020.

The family of Rolfe’s victims were at Winchester Crown Court to watch the abuser being sent to prison on Friday.

Sentencing, Judge Jane Miller QC said that his behaviour was “manipulative, pre-planned and predatory”.

The court heard that Rolfe told the probation officer that it was one of the victim’s “enticing actions that began this course of conduct”.

The judge said: “You were living in another world, you admitted that you thought touching them was ok.”

The abuse only came to light in February last year when the victims told their mother. Rolfe was arrested and denied the girls’ accusations.

Prosecuting, Rob Welling said that an electronic device belonging to Rolfe was seized. He continued: “It was then put into the system and subsequently examined. It was a result of a memory card that had been used to store images from a camera which led to revelation of counts 4 to 8.”

He added: “But for the finding of those images, that give the whole story, the reality is that (the two victims) would have almost certainly had to give evidence [at a trial],” Mr Welling added.

Mr Welling said that for one of the victims “it was obvious from the age of five she was subject to a campaign of sexual abuse".

In a victim impact statement, their mother said that the family have had “their lives turned upside down”.

She continued: “This is something that no one should go through, we have been let down and betrayed.

“They (the victims) have had to deal with so much and we may not know the full impact of their trauma for years to come.”

In mitigation, Ruby Selva said that Rolfe has expressed remorse for his offending and is seeking help for his behaviour.

Ms Selva continued: “Mr Rolfe appreciated very soon after leaving the police station and instructing solicitors that he would not wish to see either of these two children giving evidence.”

Rolfe previously pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity - three charges involved no penetration, but one involved penetration.

He also admitted to taking an indecent photograph of a child and making indecent photos of a child – categories A and B.

Rolfe pleaded not guilty to making indecent images of children – category C – which will lay on file.

Following the sentence, Detective Sergeant Eileen Speck said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those involved in this long and challenging investigation.

“The children involved will continue to be supported through this very difficult time so they can try to recover from the long term abuse they suffered.

“The officer in the case, Detective Constable James Copley, worked for more than a year to gather the relevant evidence and speak to the victims.

“I would like to thank DC Copley and my team of experienced officers for their dedication and hard work to bring justice to the children and their families.

“Working within the Child Abuse Investigation Team is incredibly rewarding when we know that we can protect children and allow them to have a brighter future.”