A FORMER serving soldier from Blackburn befriended single mothers to gain access to their daughters who he would then sexually abuse, a court heard.

Norman Green, 62, was appearing for sentence at Guildford Crown Court after pleading guilty to 19 offences of indecent assault committed between 1972 and 1991.

The court heard that the offences occurred mostly in the Farnborough area of Hampshire while Green served in the army locally.

Judge Keith Bassingthwaighte told him: "You systematically abused young girls over a long period of time.

"You took advantage of befriending their mothers and then abused their children."

Green, of Mosley Street, Blackburn, was jailed for a total of three years.

The offences took place between 1972 and 1991, Simon Wilde, prosecuting, told the court but only came to light when the victim of the first four offences made a complaint to authorities in the late 1990s. Most of the offences occurred in Surrey while Green was a serving soldier.

The mother of the first victim was separated from her husband and Green would visit her at her home. He became a friend of the mother and was friendly with her daughter.

The indecent assaults on the girl took place when she was aged between 13 and 15.

Another girl was aged between eight and 10 when she was repeatedly sexually abused by Green.

On one occasion Green took one of his victims to the army barracks where he showed her magazines before committing indecency. Another offence took place at a local swimming pool. Green befriended another single mother and assaulted her daughter when she was aged between six and 10. Another girl was aged 15 when Green twice indecently assaulted her.

Green was arrested in Blackburn last year. The court was told he had one previous conviction for an indecent assault on a 12-year-old girl.

Louise D'Arcy, defending, said Green realised the enormity of his behaviour and accepted there was no other option than a prison sentence. He expressed genuine remorse and sorrow to the complainants.

Since his arrest he had been adamant in his desire to stop offending. He accepted he needed help and was keen to become involved in a sex offenders' programme while in prison, she said.