A child abuser has been jailed for 15 years in his absence after trying to commit suicide on the night before his sentence. 

Former lorry driver David Milton ruined the lives of two young girls by sexually assaulting them in the 1970s and 1980s and leaving them with lifelong psychological scarring. 

He abused one girl for seven years from the age of four and she was so young and innocent she did not realise it was wrong until she went to sex education lessons as school. 

Milton, aged 77, was found guilty of 12 offences of indecency by a jury at Exeter Crown Court on Monday and took an overdose of anti-depressants after being given bail pending sentence on Tuesday. 

Judge Erik Salomonsen jailed him for 15 years in his absence so he can be taken straight from hospital to prison without having another chance to harm himself. 

Milton, of Howards Way, Newton Abbot, denied but was found guilty of eleven offences of indecency against one girl and one of indecency against the second. 

Addressing an empty dock, Judge Salomonsen told him: ’I have heard powerful evidence from the first victim about the profound effect this offending has had on her life. 

’She described herself as not being the person she was supposed to have been. The second victim was a vulnerable child who you assaulted when she was 15. 

’I am mindful you have made an attempt to take your own life in the last 24 hours. I say nothing about why you did that or whether it was a serious attempt.’ 

During a week-long case Mr Andrew Macfarlane, prosecuting, said Milton was living in an estate near Newton Abbot when he carried out the offences in the 1970s and 1980s. 

He said Milton had an insatiable appetite for young children and no inhibitions at all. He brainwashed the victims and assaulted the younger girl while babysitting. 

He told both girls to keep what he was doing secret and threatened them they would be taken into care if they told anyone what he was doing. 

He read parts of the victim statement from the younger girl, who believes Milton’s suicide attempt was part of his selfish and controlling behaviour. 

The girl said: ’He took everything that I had away to the extent I would not go near anyone and did not like to be touched by anyone, male or female. I can still remember his smell and feel. He has ruined my life.’ 

Milton denied all the allegations and said they were all untrue. 

Mr Rupert Taylor, mitigating, said Milton had lived an otherwise blameless life and his age and ill health will make any jail sentence particularly difficult to cope with.