A DISGRACED managing director from Hereford slashed his wrists and drove his car off a cliff after carrying out sex attacks on two young girls, Worcester Crown Court heard this week.

The victims, aged seven and nine, then revealed that 55-year-old Eric Spalding had smacked their bare bottoms and committed other indecent acts. But his suicide bid in Wales in October last year failed and he was rushed to Bangor hospital where he recovered from his injuries.

Jailing Spalding, of Hillside Avenue, Hereford, for 15 months, Mr Justice Curtis directed that the prison governor be given a psychiatrist's report which confirmed the defendant was still a suicide risk.

The judge told him: "Young girls have to be protected by the courts. This conduct cannot be permitted."

Spalding's 30-year marriage ended in divorce after he received a police caution in March, 1999 for twice exposing himself to teenage girls, said Andrew Lockhart, prosecuting. But he ignored the warning and attacked two girls in another Herefordshire town.

Spalding was arrested in Wales after the cliff incident. He claimed he was not sexually excited by his behaviour but admitted five counts of indecent assault.

Defence counsel Lee Marklew said the 'deeply repugnant' offences were committed by a man who was depressed and whose life was in disarray.

"He was a hard-working family man before his wife left him after his arrest for indecent exposure," he added. "He began to drink and became increasingly isolated. He drove his car off a cliff and then voluntarily spent five weeks in a psychiatric hospital."

The judge ordered Spalding to register as a sex offender for 10 years. He said it was unfortunate that a man of his upbringing and intelligence had paid no heed to the caution for exposing himself and carried out serious indecency.