A FORMER shopkeeper who sexually abused three girls over a 30 year period is likely to die in prison after being jailed for 12 years.

Gerald Greenwood, now 72, raped one girl repeatedly after becoming obsessed with her, even molesting her and her best friend in the back room of the shop on Cooper Street, Bacup.

He later claimed he didn't know what had possessed him, but said it must have been the excitement of two young girls wanting him to do it, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Greenwood, now of Scott Street, Walsden, Todmorden, who struck between 1968 and 1996, admitted three rape charges and seven of indecent assault.

He was jailed for 12 years with his solicitor saying that, due to ill-health, it was unlikely that he would ever be freed.

His victims and their families sobbed in the public gallery as a judge told him he had carried out "quite appalling repeated and sustained sexual abuse of children" and said his attempts to blame them had been quite disgraceful.

Judge Beverley Lunt said Greenwood had enjoyed years of freedom to which he was not entitled as a result of his behaviour.

Judge Lunt said the defendant had a lack of awareness of the impact of what he had done on his victims.

Greenwood was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and was given an indefinite sex offences prevention order.

He was banned from associating with any child under 16 unless under supervision of an adult, must live at an address approved by the police and must not work or do voluntary work with any person under 16.

Jeremy Lasker prosecuting, told the court the offences came to light some years ago after the rape victim's 40th birthday party.

In January 2002 the defendant had written a letter to a member of his family, making certain admissions and seeking to explain his actions over the years by blaming the girls.

Police were contacted in October last year and the rape victim made a statement saying she had been abused over 13 years, beginning when she was seven.

She told officers Greenwood took her into the back room of a shop told her to lie down and committed a sex act on her.

The girl said the defendant told her she must keep this incident to herself.

The prosecutor said the defendant was arrested and interviewed twice in January and February.

He accepted he had been involved in a course of abuse against the rape victim but denied any assault on the others.

Greenwood claimed he couldn't recall any incident that had happened in Cooper Street.

The defendant had no previous convictions.

Michael Lavery, defending, said Greenwood was now 72 and was going to have very little, if any, time at liberty again.

Greenwood had suffered ill health and had been suffering from cancer.

After the hearing Det Constable Jane Lawrenson of the Public Protection Unit in Accrington, said: "The victims have been waiting for this day for a long time and now feel relieved and that other people are now safe."

The officer added: "The sentence reflects the severity of the crimes.

"They are the most serious of crimes as he has offended against children, the most innocent members of the community."