A MAN who sexually assaulted two children in their beds while their mother went to the shops has been jailed for six years and eight months.
Thomas Sean McCarthy, 37, was arrested hours after he sexually assaulted his two victims, aged six and four, on April 1 this year at a village in the Wellingborough area of Northamptonshire.
DC Cathy O'Connor described the crime as “an opportunist and violent sexual assault”.
Northampton Crown Court heard McCarthy, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire had been friends with the victims’ mother and, when she left McCarthy alone with the children in order to visit a local shop, he assaulted them in their beds.
Ahead of sentencing at Northampton Crown Court, McCarthy had admitted two counts of sexual assault by penetration, two of sexual assault by touching and one of possessing indecent images of children.
DC O’Connor, from the child protection team at Northamptonshire Police, said: “We welcome the sentence handed down by the judge.
“This was an opportunist and violent sexual assault on two young girls whose mother had entrusted the defendant to look after while she went to a local shop.
“He is a danger to children and this sentence will remove that threat for some years to come.
“His two victims have been incredibly brave considering their ordeal.
“They have helped detectives throughout the investigation and are continuing to receive support.”
McCarthy was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
