A "DEVIOUS and calculating" pensioner who preyed on two young children has been put behind bars.

John Bundock has been imprisoned for six years after he pleaded guilty to sexual and indecent assault on two children.

Bundock, 72, from Brabourne Lees, groomed his victims for three years after befriending their families.

He convinced the girls, who are both younger than 14 and related to each other, to keep quiet about their ordeal, claiming if they broke their silence they would never be believed and would end up in care.

But his twisted crimes were finally revealed when the children came forward and told family members.

Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Bundock was charged with sexual activity with a child under the age of 13 and indecent assault on a child under the age of 14.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week.

Detective Sergeant Shaun Creed of the Kent Police public protection unit said: "We will use every resource available to us in order to identify and investigate offenders who target children in this way. Offenders such as Bundock are devious and calculating – they rely on their young victims being too scared to report them.

"I want to pay tribute to the victims in this case – both young girls displayed an enormous amount of courage and bravery in giving their accounts to investigators. It was their evidence that enabled us to bring Bundock before the court.

"We are pleased that, with the sentence, Bundock will be unable to seek out or target any further victims."