A paedophile who began sexually assaulting four young victims 30 years ago has been jailed for more than 21 years.

Dean Nicholson, 56, targeted his victims, all known to him, between 1992 and 2004 in Huntingdonshire. He was 26 when he began the abuse, with one victim being just six years old at the time. Others were slightly older, but all were under 16.

Nicholson often forced his victims to perform sexual acts on him or performed them on them. The offences came to light when the victims confided in those close to them.

Nicholson, of Station Road, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, was arrested and charged with 22 offences. He stood trial at Cambridge Crown Court in November but pleaded guilty to 15 offences on the fourth day.

These included five counts of gross indecency with a child and eight counts of indecent assault. He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) against a separate adult victim in 1991.

Sentenced on Friday (16 December), Nicholson received 21 years and seven months in prison. He was also subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to monitor his future activity.

Judge Philip Grey stated that by the time Nicholson pleaded guilty, two of his victims had already given evidence, and the voices of all his victims were 'heard loud and clear by the court'.

He told Nicholson that he had sexualized, abused, and groomed his victims over many years and commended the victims for coming forward. He described Nicholson as a 'predatory paedophile' who groomed his victims and, despite refusing to admit it, had done 'horrific damage to many' with his 'perverted desire for sexual activity'.