A DISGRACED children's books illustrator from Penzance who sexually abused two young girls four decades ago has been jailed for three years and nine months at a London court.

Artist Henry Christopher Mendes, 64, of Park an Pyth, Pendeen, Penzance initially denied forcing the first girl, who was around eight years-old, to perform a sex act on him and running his hand up the body of the second girl, also aged around eight.

However, after hearing the two victims give evidence at Blackfriars Crown Court Mendes unexpectedly changed his plea to guilty .

Prosecutor Shaun Esprit told the jury the offences occurred in north London's Kentish Town in the late 1970's and only came to the police's attention when the first complainant reported Mendes in 2013.

Mr Esprit said: “The defendant went out to go to the off-licence and he asked the first complainant if she fancied coming with him to get an ice-cream. He stopped off at a pub and left her outside while he popped in.

“She was left outside on her own and after what seemed to her an eternity the defendant returned and as they walked back he took her through an elevated area, which was higher up and had a swing and concrete blocks.

The defendant made her sit down on one and she noticed he was mumbling to himself and fiddling with the zip on his trousers and she did not know what was going on.”

The girl then performed a sex act on Mendes. He said the girl remained silent about what had happened until 1989 when she “blurted out what happened to her mother” in an emotional outburst.

Mr Esprit said she had later emailed Mendes and “expressed a lot of anger” over what had happened.

The second complainant also told police she was targeted by the defendant said Mr Esprit.

He continued: “She was asleep in bed and awoke and was aware of someone next to her, a man, and could hear ponderous breathing.

“She did not open her eyes, but recognised the voice of the defendant saying: 'You're so beautiful' and she felt a hand under the duvet, which bit by bit moved up. It stopped short of between her legs when a man's voice outside her bedroom door said: 'Chris, let's go to the off-licence.'”

The defendant was known by his second name, Chris, the prosecutor told the court. When Mendes was finally arrested and questioned by police he denied the assaults. However, during the investigation police discovered his computer contained nearly 400 child porn images proving that he was still an active paedophile.

Mendes pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault in relation to each girl between July 8, 1976 and November 27, 1979. He also admitted seven counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images.