A MAN has been jailed for 19 years for raping two young girls seven years ago.

Paul Taylor, aged 27, of Bridgefield Street, Radcliffe, was found guilty of seven counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault at Bolton Crown Court this morning.

Between 2004 and 2006, two girls aged 10 and 14, were raped and sexually assaulted at their house in Bury.

After the hearing, Det Con Debra Gallagher, of Bury Police, said: "We take these matters extremely seriously and thanks to the bravery of both victims, Taylor has been brought to justice.

"The agony was prolonged for both victims as at one point during the trial, Taylor fled but he was promptly found.

“He will face many years behind bars and will have a long time to think about the misery he caused to two innocent children.”