A paedophile has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexually assaulting three girls between 2000 and 2010.

Stuart Menzies, 58, from Woking, Surrey, was found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.

Surrey Police described his actions as “selfish and abhorrent” with “devastating consequences” for his victims.

Menzies will serve an additional five years on licence.

A statement from one of Menzies’ victims that was read out in court said that the abuse had a huge impact on her mental health.

She said: “It’s been a long battle to overcome this and for the longest time I couldn’t envision any future for myself, because I didn’t think I would live past my twenties.

“It’s only within the last few years where my mental health has gotten better that I’ve decided to do something with my life.

“If I hadn’t experienced any of the things he’d put me through I believe my life would have been much different.”