TWO women who were sexually abused as children by a Bridgwater man have been praised for their bravery after helping to bring him to justice.

Jet Nocholas Sheridon, 53, of Thompson close, was found guilty following a seven-day trial at Taunton Crown Court last week of raping and indecently assaulting two children between 1977 and 1986.

He was also convicted of wilfully ill-treating a young person aged under 16, but cleared of one other count of indecent assault.

Sheridon, who had denied all the charges, shook his head in the dock as the jury returned their verdict last Tuesday.

The investigation started in June 2009 when one of the women contacted police.

Both women, now in their 40s, gave evidence during the trial.

Det Con Kevin Pellow, who worked on the case, said afterwards: “I’m clearly delighted with the verdict for the complainants – to allow them to feel there’s some kind of closure and they’ll be able to draw a line under what’s happened and rebuild their lives.

“It’s been a difficult case to work on and they have been incredibly brave to come to court and relieve everything that happened.”

Sheridon’s sentencing has been adjourned for probation reports.