A Wythenshawe man who repeatedly raped and abused two young girls has been jailed for 19 years.

Robert Charles Cobane, aged 42, of Painswick Road, Wythenshawe preyed on the girls, who were between the ages of 7 and 12, in the mid-2000s.

Cobane was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today, after being found guilty of three counts of rape of a child under 13-years-old and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 by penetration. He will also be added to the sex offender register for life.

Police today praised the brave victims who came forward to report Cobane’s crimes.

Cobane would rape one of the girls in the back of a van, as well as at a property in Wythenshawe.

He would also sometimes abuse them both in front of each other and threatened to kill one of the victims if she ever said anything about the abuse.

In the years since the offences, the two victims spoke with each other and decided to report it to police in August 2015.

Detective Constable Terina Arthern of GMP’s Major Incidents Team said: “Cobane subjected two innocent young girls to a relentless campaign of horrific sexual abuse.

“These despicable assaults took place over the course of several years.

“The victims have shown great bravery in coming forward and reporting these crimes to police. Thanks to them, a dangerous individual is now behind bars and he cannot harm any other children.”