David Holland, 55, sexually assaulted the girls, and raped one of them,
during the 1980s, when he was the owner of a gun shop in South Shields.

It was only after his victims bravely broke their two-decade silence
Holland, who has worked for the last 18 years as a solicitors' representative at police stations, was brought to justice.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how, after his arrest last year, police searched his home and found an 'armoury' of illegal firearms and ammunition, including a revolver, two rifles, a shotgun and ammunition.

Judge Guy Whitburn today sentenced him to a total of 15 years behind
bars.

Holland, of The Wynds, Esh Winning, County Durham, had admitted some
charges against one of his victims, but denied most of the offences, including rape and indecency with a child.

The judge told him: "You have committed extremely serious sexual offences against two children.

"You required both these girls, now women, to give evidence."

After his conviction, one of his victims told police: "He thought he was above the law, and I feel proud i have gone through this process."

Defence barrister Richard Davenport said Holland has no memory of some of the sexual offences which could be explained because he has some form of tumour in his brain.

He added that Holland had kept the guns and ammunitition from his days as a firearms dealer, and had not acquired them for criminal purposes.

Judge Whitburn said the firearms charges, which Holland admitted, were a
serious aspect of the case.

The judge said; "It is not that you held those firearms with any criminal intent - you had been a legitimate firearms dealer - but if anyone had burgled your premises they would have come across what was a mini-armoury."

Holland must sign the sex offenders' register for life, and has been banned from ever working with children.