A Greater Manchester man who raped and sexually assaulted his children, stepchildren and a grandchild over a 30-year period has been jailed for 11 years.

Some of the youngsters were aged as young as seven when the systematic abuse began, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

Each of the four victims was too scared to tell anyone about their ordeal at the time and each suffered in silence.

The court heard one girl was regularly sexually assaulted from the age of seven and then raped on numerous occasions between the ages of 13 and 16.

The man from Trafford, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecency with children, 15 counts of indecent assault, two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

Detective Constable Nicola Graham, from Trafford’s Public Protection Investigation Unit, said: “He took away their childhoods and forced them to live in fear and uncertainty with his sick, perverted behaviour.

”It may have taken years for him to finally face justice but I hope today his victims will be able to take some comfort from the fact he has been punished for what he did to them.

”Every report of rape and sexual assault we receive is fully investigated and I hope this case has highlighted the importance of reporting abuse like this to the police, no matter how long ago it happened.”

The man was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and is banned from working with children for life.