A PROLIFIC paedophile who committed gross acts of sexual abuse on eight children, including the rape of one boy, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence.

Colin Haworth, 71, carried out his lewd acts in several different locations across the UK, including Drummore in Scotland, Llandudno in Wales, and also in his home town of Burnley.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Haworth, who is currently serving a seven year sentence in Stafford Prison, for similar sex offences committed in 2000, 2001 and 2011, against two further victims, had committed the crimes over a 35 year period between 1977 and 2014.

Prosecuting, Richard Haworth, summarised the details of each case, which included subjecting children to sexual assaults, indecently assaulting children, and in one instance, raping a child.

He said: “In 2017, one of the victims contacted the police to ask for advice in relation to the offences.

“Thereafter a host of other complainants and victims came forward in respect of the defendants sustained and predatory sexual activity covering the most serious types of abuse over a very long period of time.”

The court heard how Haworth would refer to abuse as a ‘spitting game’, to make it appear that what he was doing was normal.

It was also heard how the horrific abuse had affected all of the victims as they grew older and had, in some cases, affected their relationships with their own children.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said: “

The offences on this indictment involved eight separate victims. The victims were all children, nearly all under the age of 13, with some being as young as three or four when the abuse began.

“Your offending affected all of them, both as children and into adulthood, as we’ve heard from the victim personal statements.

"This was conduct lasting most of your adult life. It was manipulative, predatory and highly damaging to the victims involved and there’s no mitigation that can detract from that.

"Your conduct involved grooming and exploitation and I have no hesitation in finding that you are a dangerous offender.”

Haworth pleaded guilty to 33 sexual offences on eight different children, including the rape of one child and attempted rape of another, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison with an additional one year on extended license. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.