A MAN has been jailed for five-and-a-half years after being convicted of historic sex offences.

Bernard Decieco, aged 57, of Spring Street, Shuttleworth, sexually assaulted a boy and a girl in Bristol more than 40 years ago.

Decieco committed his first offence in the late 1960s when he was aged 11.

The victims, who were aged between eight and 13 at the time the offences were committed, came forward to speak to police in 2012.

Officers launched an investigation and focussed on offences committed in the south Bristol area in the 1960s and 1970s.

Decieco was arrested and questioned but denied any wrongdoing.

He was convicted of nine counts of indecent assault after a trial at Bristol Crown Court and was sentenced on Friday.

Sentencing, Recorder Nicholas Atkinson QC said Decieco had committed the offences "for his own selfish pleasure".

After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Katherine Davis, who was the investigating officer at Avon and Somerset Police, said: "It's almost impossible to comprehend the pain and suffering these two victims have had to endure.

"It's equally as horrifying when you consider Bernard Decieco was just a young boy himself when he started his offending.

"He subjected these two victims to some very serious sexual assaults, which were extremely distressing in nature.

"Both victims have suffered severe emotional trauma over the intervening years and have shown great strength and courage in coming forward to speak to us.

"The courage and spirit of these victims has ensured our communities will now be protected from a dangerous offender and I hope they are now able to move on with their lives.

"This case sends a loud and clear message that it doesn't matter when offences like this were committed, we'll always listen to, believe and respect victims and ultimately try and obtain justice for them."