A 65-YEAR-OLD man found guilty of sexually abusing three young girls more than 20 years ago has been warned by a judge he is facing a prison sentence.

George Shackman, of Manchester Road, Bury, was warned by Judge William Morris at Bolton Crown Court that he is likely to be jailed when he returns to court on December 21 for sentencing.

Shackman, who walks with a stick, had denied 10 counts of indecent assault dating back to the early 1980s involving girls aged between nine and 13.

But following a seven-day trial, a jury took just over five hours to return unanimous verdicts on five of the charges. They also returned majority verdicts on the remaining counts.

Judge Morris adjourned sentencing last week while a pre-sentence report was prepared but he told Shackman: "These are serious offences, albeit committed a long time ago.

"Offences of this nature carry a prison sentence and you must be prepared for that."

Shackman was granted conditional bail.