A FORMER Kidderminster man has been jailed for a total of 18 years after being convicted of sex offences against young girls more than 20 years ago.

Martin Clee, 49, of no fixed address, was found guilty of rape and indecent assault after a trial at Hereford Crown Court in February.

He showed no emotion when he was sentenced by Judge Toby Hooper QC at Worcester Crown Court and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.

Judge Hooper said the offences had been committed between 1989 and 1997 when one girl had been repeatedly raped.

A victim impact statement showed that the rest of her life had been affected by her experiences. He imposed a 17-year sentence.

Her friend, who was also a teenage girl, had been indecently assaulted and he imposed a one-year consecutive sentence.

Prosecutor James Dunstan said the rape victim's ordeal had led to problems and she had been unable to have any happiness in her life.

Martin Butterworth , for Clee, said he continued to receive support from his wife's family. Clee had no previous convictions but the jury's verdicts were "nothing more than he deserves."