PAEDOPHILE James Warke began his 20-year reign of terror when he was just 15 after claiming he was himself abused as child, it was revealed today.

The 36-year-old was sent to prison for 10 years by a judge at Preston Crown Court yesterday for a series of attacks on Blackburn schoolboys

The unemployed drifter, who was living in a flat in the Audley area of Blackburn, abducted one of his young victims and went on the run before he was caught in the seaside resort of Worthing.

Warke admitted the abduction and was found guilty of seven counts of gross indecency and a charge of indecent assault at a trial in Carlisle.

Judge Peter Openshaw QC described Warke as an addictive and obsessive paedophile and a danger to the public, before handing out the maximum possible sentence.

The judge also ordered that Warke be put on the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.

He said: "You moved to a flat in Blackburn and within a couple of weeks you insinuated yourself into a group of young boys.

"Offering them cigarettes, money and drinks, all of this was done to present you with the opportunity to indulge in your obsession with young boys.

"You took a young boy away from his family for sexual gratification and I have no doubt you were grooming him so you could carry out further offences. "You are an addictive and obsessive paedophile and the overriding duty of the court must be to protect the public."

It was revealed that Warke's first conviction for a sexual offence was in Northern Ireland in 1978 when he was 15.

Warke, who was raised in Northern Ireland, claimed he was abused as a child and that led to his sexual deviancy.

Over the next two years he appeared in court three times following sex attacks on youngsters.

On his fourth appearance he was was jailed for 12 months after he was found guilty of two attacks on schoolboys.

Two years later Warke was again sent to prison for burglary, robbery and possessing a firearm.

There was a series of similar offences and then Warke was sent to prison in 1990 for three years for attempted robbery.

By 1995 he had arrived in Lancashire and was based in the Blackpool area. He was already choosing his next victim and sexually assaulted a paper boy and another youngster. But the most serious case came in 1996 when Warke abducted two runaway teenagers from an arcade on the Golden Mile. He kept them for nine nights and bribed them with cigarettes, alcohol and money. After he was caught he was sent to prison but was out on licence after less than three years.

Warke was moved from one hostel to another before settling in a council flat in Blackburn.

He was once again in trouble with the police after being caught talking to schoolboys in Accrington town centre but quickly moved in on his next victims.

The youngster he abducted wanted to run away from home and Warke manipulated the situation.

He sold all his possessions to buy coach tickets to Brighton and was intent on setting up home with the schoolboy.

Warke even told the youngster he intended to adopt him and wanted to move abroad.

Although the sexual assaults were fairly minor there is no doubt he planned to keep the schoolboy under his control and make him a slave to his perverted desires.

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