GEORGE Davison preyed on Swindon girls for more than two decades.

The former mechanic now 63, is serving a 15-year jail sentence for rape and indecent assault.

Davison, formerly of New Meadow Copse in Ladymead, Peatmoor, repeatedly raped one of his victims between the age of 11 and 15. He indecently assaulted 12 other girls during his 25-year reign of terror.

Davison won his victims' trust by posing as a father figure and caring friend before abusing them. He ensured their silence by threats of violence.

Swindon police officers and 13 victims, who relived their horrific memories, helped put Davison, who denied the charges against him, behind bars.

Police officers were first handed the case in 1995. Davison had been investigated several times over the past 20 years, but no prosecutions were pursued.

After a huge investigation which involved searching the settled, adult lives of Davison's victims, the depth of his depravity was finally revealed.

Davison was found guilty of all six indecent assault charges against him for his first trial in November, 1996. In the second trial he was convicted of rape and another six counts of indecent assault in December. He was cleared of one charge of indecent assault.

Davison, who lived at numerous addresses in Swindon from the mid 1960s, first struck in 1965. The last indecent assault took place in December 1991.

Judge Carol Hagen said: "You committed a gross breach of trust in each case."