A man sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting his two young female relatives, aged six and eight, in Manchester more than seven years ago, is to serve nearly the full term before becoming eligible for parole.

The man, whose name has been withheld to protect the identities of the children, was found guilty in March of three counts each of grievous sexual assault and sexual touching as well as four counts of sexual intercourse with a person under 16 following a two-week trial at the Manchester Home Circuit Court.

However, he was sentenced yesterday in the Home Circuit Court by Justice Grace Henry McKenzie.