A PAIR of brothers have been jailed for a total of 25 years after being found guilty of 21 sex attacks against girls.

Younger brother Alan Hughes, of West Bradford, was found guilty of a harrowing catalogue of child abuse – including four rapes – and was imprisoned for 18 years.

His older brother Bertram Hughes, formerly of Salterforth, is beginning a seven-year sentence after being convicted of indecent assault.

Preston Crown Court heard that Alan Hughes was violent towards one victim and had punched and kicked her.

He plied another girl with drink before attacking her.

The court heard that the abuse took place in Earby and Wales and prosecutor Jeremy Lasker labelled it as “the most dreadful behaviour”.

The brothers claimed their accusers were ‘liars’ but each was convicted after a lengthy trial at Preston.

Alan Hughes, 45, of Eaves Hall Lane, West Bradford, near Clitheroe, was found guilty of 22 offences - four of rape, 16 involving indecency with a child, and two of assault by beating.

Bertram Hughes, formerly of Barnoldswick New Road, Salterforth, but now living in Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, was convicted on one charge of indecent assault.

He was cleared of three other indecent assault charges.

Each of the brothers was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely by Judge Michael Byrne.

After the case, Detective Inspector Dave Groombridge, of Pendle CID said: “Clearly this is a very significant sentence and I think reflects the seriousness of this case.

“Hopefully this will send out a message to everyone that the police and judiciary will deal with these kind of incidents robustly and impose appropriate sentences.

“The sentence accurately reflects the abhorrence that the public has towards offending of this kind of crime.”

Judge Byrne said at a previous hearing to Alan Hughes: “I am concerned that you may represent a real and substantial risk to teenage girls and young women for a very long time and for the foreseeable future.”