A predatory paedophile who groomed and preyed on girls for his perverted sexual gratification has been jailed for 14 years.

Barry Eves, now 63, repeatedly abused two victims. He had photographed himself having sex with one of them and also performing other indecent acts on her.

Eves, who said he had been sexually attracted to the child, gave her provocative clothing to wear for his pictures and also snapped her naked.

If the girl objected, he would sulk until she felt guilty for making him unhappy.

This was because he had ‘completely groomed’ her, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant kept the photos for years on his computer as some kind of ‘sick trophy’ and after police arrested him last August, they found almost 900 obscene pictures of the girl.

Eves had also stored pictures of several other children, including shots of a 12-year-old girl filmed with a hidden camera.

Officers discovered a total of 1,200 indecent pictures on discs, which included one of the face of a nine-year-old superimposed on a woman's naked body, underwear poses and a haul of downloaded child porn, showing youngsters being abused.

The hearing was told the defendant had left a trail of emotional upset for his victims, but was said by probation officers to have no concept of the harm inflicted on the girls.

The defendant, of Ramsey Avenue, Bacup, admitted two charges of indecency with a child, three of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, three allegations of making indecent photos of a child, four counts of indecent assault and eight charges of possessing an indecent photo of a child.

He had also pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent photos of a child, one of taking an indecent picture and five of possessing indecent pictures of children and had been committed for sentence by Burnley Magistrates.

Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant she had to sentence him for a "catalogue of depravity."

She said: "In my judgement, you are a dangerous man.

You were then, you are now and I am quite satisfied you will continue to be a danger to young girls in the future.

The defendant was banned from working with children and placed on the sex offenders' register, both for life.

He had no previous convictions.

Katherine Pierpoint, for Eves, said the offences were extremely serious and he knew the only sentence would be a custodial term of some length.

She said: "He has not found prison an easy experience. His wife stands by him and supports him.

His 89-year-old mother is understandably upset about these matters."

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