A paedophile from South London who abused three young girls in nearly 30 years ago has been jailed for nine years at Inner London Crown Court.

William Richards, 59-years-old, abused the girls over a six year period from 1977 to 1983 in Brixton. He groomed the children, forcing them to watch pornography or his own sketches of naked women before assaulting them on nearly a weekly basis.

Judge Caroline Wright called his crimes ‘repugnant acts’ on the girls who were aged between three and eight at the time. The sexual abuse only stopped when the girls moved away. She also said that ‘these three girls are now adults with children of their own, and I have read how it has affected them, protecting their children almost obsessively.'

Richards was only caught when one of his victims saw him in 2010, she subsequently assaulted him and called him a 'nonce' before calling the police.

Marcus Waite, defending, said Richards himself was a vulnerable man, with physical difficulties and learning difficulties.

As well as being sentenced to 9 years imprisonment, he will have to sign on the sex offenders register for life and will not be allowed contact with any children under the age of 16 without social services present for 15 years.