A TEACHING assistant who was found guilty of sexually assaulting three school girls and possessing indecent images of children has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Treva McCartney (55) of Theresa Street, Blaydon, was found guilty of seven charges of sexual assault during a trial at Newcastle Crown Court in January.

The charges related to incidents which were reported when he was working at a school in Tynedale. 

McCartney pleaded not guilty to assaulting the girls, all aged between seven and eight, but admitted possessing the images. 

McCartney was also handed an indefinite restraining order, banning him from entering the area where the school is based and contacting any of the victims by any means. 

He was also given a sexual harm prevention order, which means he cannot live in a house with a girl under 16, or use a computer that has access to the internet without informing police.

Read more in this week's Hexham Courant.