A MAN who admitted seven counts of sexual assault and four counts of causing a female to engage in sexual activity, relating to two victims, has been jailed for more than half a decade.

Paul Sydney Simpson, 66, of no fixed abode, was jailed for six years after admitting the charges relating to incidents in East Dorset, which dated back to March 2020.

He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing on Monday, October 11.

Prosecuting, Helen Easterbrook told the court the assaults date between March 2020 and January this year.

They included causing a woman to engage in sexual activity in his car and touching a woman’s vagina and breasts.

The court heard how Simpson’s actions came to light when one of the victims found the courage to speak to their boyfriend.

Mitigating, Nick Robinson told the court when police arrested him, Simpson said: “I know what I have done is wrong, I am guilty.”

Mr Robinson said the defendant “deeply regrets” his actions and he was “genuinely remorseful”.

“He reiterates through me,” Mr Robinson told the court, “I deeply regret what I have done, I am disgusted with myself.”

Judge Stephen Climie sentenced Simpson to three years’ imprisonment for each victim, to be served consecutively.

He said: “For some reason, you are as much at a loss to explain as the court is, you chose to assault them sexually over a significant period of time on a significant number of occasions.

“You appreciated the disclosure was on its way and made yourself briefly scarce before being arrested by police and you admitted what you had done.

“You have not sought diminish the extent of any offending in the investigation process or before the court.

“The sentencing guidelines has a starting point of two years, but that assumes a single offence whereas these are repeated occasions with more than one victim.”

Judge Climie also imposed a restraining order preventing the defendant from contacting the victims and placed him on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Detective Constable Tom Bancroft, who led the investigation, said after the hearing: “I would like to praise the victims in this case for the courage they have shown in coming forward and supporting our investigation.

“I hope the outcome of this case will give other victims of sexual abuse the confidence to speak to Dorset Police,” the detective added.