In the North, a paedophile that repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted two young sisters has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

John Atkinson, aged 66, who had pleaded guilty to almost 60 offences against the girls over a three-year period, filmed many of his assaults.

Handing down the 16-year sentence at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Hart told Atkinson that he would have faced even more years behind bars if he hadn't pleaded guilty or had been in good health.

Atkinson, from the seaside village of Millisle, Co Down, is now wheelchair bound and suffers from a form of lymphoma.

The average life expectancy for someone with his condition is about 10 years.

He had started abusing the sisters when they were nine and seven respectively by befriending their parents and gaining their trust to such an extent that they had allowed the girls to visit his house and go on overnight trips.