A D-Day veteran has been jailed after admitting a string of historic sex offences against two young girls.

Albert Barrow, from Totton, was sentenced to four years after admitting to the abuse of the two girls over several years, starting in 1970.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the 90-year-old, who was a former lance corporal who was involved in the D-Day landings, had told a probation officer he did not believe what he had done was that serious and said “It happens all the time”.

As he was sentenced by Judge Rowland, he asked the dock officers to confirm the length and as they confirmed the four-year jail term he said “But I won’t be alive that long”.

The court heard that the offences came to light when police were called to an incident between him and one of the victims earlier this year.

When asked by police why he did it, he said that he didn’t know but added that he was abused as a child.

In total, Barrow, who walked into court with the aid of a walking frame, admitted 14 charges of indecent assault, which covered multiple offences.

Defence barrister John Lofthouse insisted that the pensioner was remorseful and urged Judge Nicholas Rowland not to jail him and held up photographs of all of Barrow’s war medals he had won.

But the judge sentenced him to four years behind bars.