A MAN convicted of sexually abusing two Burnley schoolgirls has been sent to prison for nine years.

Roland Kennedy was told that his crimes had had a substantial impact on the victims.

A judge at Preston Crown Court also told the defendant he would be on the sex offenders list for life.

In addition, Kennedy was made the subject of an order barring him from having unsupervised association or contact with anyone under 16.

He was banned from working with children and told he must not undertake any activity likely to bring him into contact with under- 16s.

The 51-year-old, of Nairne Street, Burnley had been convicted of seven offences - three charges of sexual assault and four counts of assault by penetration - after a trial at Burnley Crown Court.

That trial heard how one of the two victims screamed and shouted as Kennedy molested her.

The girl said Kennedy put his hand down her bra and pants, committed indecent acts on her and whispered into her ear that she was sexy and that he could make her feel good.

The girl told the jury Kennedy's conduct started with touching.

She said he kept asking her to "do stuff" but she refused and he became forceful and aggressive. Both girls were said to have been seriously traumatised by what happened to them.

Kennedy had 61 previous offences on his record, though none of a sexual nature.

His barrister, Michael Murray, told Preston Crown Court that Kennedy knew a sentence of years would follow.

"I am not seeking to minimise what has happened, but this is not the worst type of a sexual offences case to come before the court," he said.

In passing sentence, Judge Michael Byrne said: "This was a sustained course of sexual misconduct.

"The impact of these offences upon the girls is substantial."

Detetective Constable Jane Lawrenson, of the Accrington-based Public Protection Unit, said: "The victims have shown tremendous courage to come forward and give evidence at court.

"These are serious sexual offences against teenage girls and the sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes."