A PAEDOPHILE in a wheelchair was jailed for 10 years for subjecting three young girls to horrific sexual abuse.

Eric Brown, aged 67, attacked the youngsters -- one of whom was just two years old -- between 1983 and 1996. He was arrested after one of the girls told her family.

At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Brown, of Berkshire Court, Gigg Lane, Bury, was found guilty of 10 charges of indecent assault, six charges of indecency with a child, and one charge of rape.

Brown -- who suffers from arthritis and needs a wheelchair to get about -- was told he was the worst sort of offender, because he forced his victims to face him again in a court ordeal.

Judge Adrian Smith said: "You are an offender who has persistently and seriously offended against children.

"It is the psychological damage that can be caused to young children that is so damaging.

"Such children, when they reach maturity, find enormous difficulty in trusting people.

"One girl has had real trouble in getting close to people of her own age. That is something that features in so many cases like this.

"Some have the good sense to plead guilty, but you have put your victims through this ordeal."