A man who was extradited from Jamaica over historic claims he sexually abused young girls has been jailed.

Leon Eastwood, 59, formerly of South Norwood, was found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults after a trial at the Old Bailey. He was sentenced on Wednesday, August 19.

The court heard how, on one occasion, Eastwood sexually assaulted the girls as they played children’s games with him. He raped the first girl as she slept in bed, police said.

He had denied raping a girl aged under 13 and sexually assaulting two girls of similar age, but has been placed on the sex offender’s register indefinitely.

He committed the crimes between 1978 and 1993 in the Lambeth area.

Eastwood was extradited from Jamaica in 2013, after an investigation by Met Police detectives which began in 2005.

Detective Constable Simon Wermig, of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, described Eastwood as "a danger to the public", and paid tribute to his victims for coming forward to give evidence in court.

He said: "No victim of sexual assault or rape should feel alone or unheard and we hope that today's result will encourage further victims to come forward and speak to us directly or via associated charities."