Dimmock, 36, of Waltondale, Woodside, was found guilty of two counts of raping a child and seven counts of indecent assault between 1996 and 1999.

He had denied all the charges but the jury returned a unanimous verdict on the historic offences earlier this year.

Dimmock showed no emotion when Judge Anthony Lowe passed sentence this week.

The judge said that he had had to take into account that Dimmock had been between 14 and 16 when he committed the offences.

Mr Benjamin Lawrence, prosecuting, said the offences had caused severe mental health issues to the victims.

He read out distressing victim impact statements from two victims showing how much they had struggled to deal with what had happened to them.

One of the victims had tried to take her own life, still suffered nightmares and flashbacks and took medication.

In a statement she said she was proud of herself for going through the court case.

Judge Anthony Lowe said Dimmock had also been a bully, threatening violence and being violent.

“I recognise that you, yourself, had a dysfunctional childhood with limited parenting,” he said.

The judge said Dimmock would serve half of his sentence in custody.

He also said Dimmock would have to remain on the sex offender register for life.

He was found guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court earlier today.

Detective Sergeant Andy Dawson was the officer in charge of the investigation. He said: “The victims in this case were incredibly brave and showed a great deal of courage throughout and I’d like to thank them, we know how difficult it can be to come forward and report these types of offences however I’m pleased they have and their perpetrator will now face the consequences.”

Dimmock is due to be sentenced on 5 April.