A PERVERT has walked free from court despite being found guilty of molesting two five year-old girls.

Sean Russell, carried out a series of sexual assaults on the youngsters over a four-year period, between January 1982 and December 1986, but is likely to escape jail because he was an adolescent when he committed the crimes.

There were gasps of disbelief from the public gallery at Snaresbrook Crown Court when the 37-year-old, of Aragon Drive, Hainault, was told he would probably be released back into the community when he is sentenced in April.

Judge William Kennedy said he took the decision because a pre-sentence report recommended the pervert be jailed for a year, meaning he would serve just six months in prison.

He said: "I could sentence him to imprisonment, but as I say, he would be out in six months.

"As part of a suspended sentence order I am able to make a whole raft of orders."

The judge said limits' on his sentencing powers meant Russell was likely to receive a 12-month-suspended sentence instead of a prison term.

He said: "The families must understand that there are limits beyond which, like every court in the land, we cannot go.

"I have to treat him as someone who was an adolescent at the time of the offences he committed.

"I know that many who came today, came hoping for a severe sentence.

"We are dealing here with offences that are 20 years old in some cases.

"There is nothing I can do to turn the clock back."

The court heard how Russell had repeatedly sexually assaulted the two girls, now aged 26 and 28, in Dagenham, during the 1980s.

The paedophile was finally arrested after the women found the courage to tell police about the abuse.

Russell denied committing any of the six counts of indecent assault against him during the seven day trial, but was found guilty by the jury.

He will be sentenced on, Friday, April 4.