Police have praised the 'courage and bravery' of two young women after a Blackpool man was jailed for sex assaults.
Gareth Walton, 44, was found guilty of 19 sexual offences against his two victims - who cannot be named for legal reasons.
His crimes were reported in January this year and he appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court on Friday 20 September after a trial in July.
Walton, of no fixed address, was jailed for 28 years. He must serve two-thirds of the sentence before he can apply for parole.
He must also sign the sex offenders' registration for life and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Sergeant Cherie Hall said: “Walton committed these deplorable offences against two vulnerable victims.
“Both of them showed great courage and bravery to report these offences and then to give evidence at the trial.
“I welcome the long prison sentence passed on Walton and it shows how seriously the judge viewed the offences committed.
“If you have been a victim of sexual offences, please come forward to report them so that the police can investigate and help bring offenders to justice.”
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