A "DANGEROUS" paedophile who raped a young girl has been jailed for 11 years.

A court heard how Ronald Green, 45, plied his victim with sweets and chocolates in order to keep her quiet and also used aggressive violence to have his way' with her.

Preston Crown Court also heard how years later, after moving to Blackburn, he indecently assaulted another girl.

Judge Norman Wright jailed Green, of Hurstwood Avenue, Blackburn, and said his crimes were "sickening".

The court heard that the first victim had suffered years of mental health problems.

He said: "You took away her childhood innocence.

"The attacks came about by providing her with sweets and treats.

"If that didn't work you used brute force."

Green pleaded guilty to four charges of indecently assault and two of indecency with a child in relation to his second victim.He was found guilty at a hearing last month of four counts of rape and two of indecent assault of his first victim.

The court heard that the first victim was attacked in the mid 1970s.

He struck again on the second girl in the mid-1990s.

Green was placed on the sex offenders register and was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.

Judge Wright added: "You groomed these girls before attacking them and living out your perverted desires.

"These offences are of a significant antiquity and if it wasn't for your age at the time of the earliest offences the sentence would be much longer."