A REDDITCH man who sexually molested four young girls has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

Michael Gallen, of South Street, Smallwood, pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault, four of possession of indecent pseudo photographs of children and three of indecency with a child.

He denied three counts of attempted rape.

Worcester Crown Court heard on Friday how Gallen, 52, had altered innocent photographs of young children by hand or digitally to make them indecent.

These were found, along with sexually explicit stories, by police in September before he was arrested in October.

Jason Aris, prosecuting, told the court the offences had happened between 1982 and last year.

The victims, who are now adults, were between the ages of six and nine when they were molested.

One of the victims did not mention the abuse until she was married.

Andrew Davidson, defending, said Gallen had given his co-operation and fully accepted responsibility for the abuse.

Judge Alistair McCreath told Gallen: ''There is only one thing that can be said in your credit. That is that you have pleaded guilty - which makes a significant difference to the sentence."

Judge McCreath added Gallen's accounts of indecency were of a "grave kind" and his conduct at worse had fallen short of attempted rape.

''I need hardly say how damaging this sort of abuse is to any child. Fundamentally, it would have a serious damage of a physical and mental nature.

''You must be seriously punished,'' said the judge.

Gallen had appeared before the courts on three other occasions on separate charges.

He was told he would have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.