THE sentencing of a Trowbridge child abuser has been labelled "completely inadequate" by his wife.

Caroline Keith said ram raiders, thieves and burglars were handed longer sentences than her husband Ronald, whose five-year jail term for sexually abusing two young schoolgirls could see him released by 2006.

Mrs Keith, 40, who told the Wiltshire Times her husband's past had ruined her life, said child perverts were being given an easy ride.

"I have seen it on TV. He will get out, be given a flat and have people coming round now and then to help him, and then the offending will start again," she said.

"It makes me feel angry knowing he will be out in three years and the children he abused will need counselling for the next 20 years or so.

"No wonder there are so many paedophiles around if this is all they get. He is probably smirking at this sentence."

Defence barrister Susan Evans told the court how Keith had admitted some of his crimes to probation officers. One of the girls was only eight years old at the time the abuse started, while a second girl was sexually assaulted after Keith took her out on a building job.

Mrs Keith, who lives and works in Trowbridge, labelled her husband an "Ian Huntley mark two" after his trial and revealed how she lived in fear of him during his release on bail.

Police fitted her home with security devices and she slept with a knife by her bed in case he broke in.

Speaking about her husband's confessions, Mrs Keith said: "He is only admitting the crimes now because he has been found guilty.

"I have been imprisoned in my house for more than a year. I am living a life sentence for what he has done. I don't think prison will change him. I don't want to be anywhere near him when he gets out."

Det Con Tim Carnohan, who worked on the case, said: "If he hadn't been caught he would still be doing this now, there is no doubt about it. We are pleased this man has been taken off the streets."

Keith, who was found guilty of eight sex abuse charges after a week-long trial at Swindon Crown Court, will serve up to three years of his sentence before being released on licence. He will be under extended supervision for a further two-year period and disqualified from working with children for life.