A MAN has been jailed for three years for sex abuse he carried out on children years ago when he was under 16.

Mark Fitzsimmons, 30, was convicted of sexual offences against three children.

A judge passing sentence at Preston Crown Court told him: "It is right to say you are a different person now from the person who committed these offences," but went on to add that there had to be a custodial sentence.

Fitzsimmons, of Swan Street, Darwen, was convicted by a jury following trial of six offences of indecent assault and one of indecency. Keith Thomas, defending, told the court nothing similar had happened since. He invited the court to consider passing an alternative sentence to prison: "He is now a wholly different person to the one years ago and there is no real likelihood of any repetition of the offences."

The judge, Sir Rhys-Davies QC, in passing sentence, said the offences had had a very considerable impact on each of the the victims in the case.

"These are very serious offences indeed."

The judge spoke of what he called extremely favourable references from the defendant's employers and people who had known Fitzsimmons for some time.

He said they all spoke highly of him.

"After very careful thought I have concluded there must be a custodial sentence for offences of this nature, " he said.

The sentence was three years prison, with two years extended licence.

In addition, Fitzsimmons will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.