A 20-YEAR-old paedophile who raped a boy and molested another child in a park has been jailed for eight years.

Ashley Gilheaney, of Hood Street, Accrington, was told he had carried out ‘horrendous’ attacks on the two nine year-olds.

After the case police said the victims' families were disappointed with the sentence.

But officers believe a special order will 'protect children from any future harm'.

Burnley Crown Court was told yesterday that Gilheaney had sexually assaulted a boy near in woods this April.

While he was remanded in custody the rape of the boy came to light and he admitted the offence.

He told officers: "I don't know what came over me. I asked him if I could have sex with him."

Gilheaney 'knew he had committed a horrible offence', the court heard.

He told officers he had been taking 'speed' - amphetamine - and drinking before he struck and admitted what he had done was horrible.

The hearing was told Gilheaney, who the probation service say poses a risk to children in future, claimed he was truly sorry for his actions and how they had hurt people.

Gilheaney admitted assaulting a child under 13 by penetration and raping a child under 13.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant was too early to say yet he was dangerous, but she would be protecting the public from him with a 'long sentence'.

She said: "Both these young boys no doubt will suffer long lasting effects from what you have done to them and must understand completely that they were totally innocent in what you did to them."

Gilheaney was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and will be banned from working with children for life.

He was also given an indefinite sex offences prevention order, prohibiting him from contacting or communicating with any child under 16.

Gilheaney was sent to a Young Offenders' Institution.

After the hearing, Detective Constable Lyndsey Vaughton described Gilheaney as 'calculating'.

She said: "It has been horrendous for the victims and their families who now have to deal with this for the rest of their lives.

"They're disappointed in the sentence. They wanted to see him inside for a lot longer.

"It has been a difficult inquiry and we are glad that the defendant has now been sentenced and that the victims and their families can now move on.

"We hope the fact he is going to be subject to a sex offences prevention order will protect children from any future harm from him."

Gerard Doran, for the defendant, told the court Gilheaney had shown clear remorse and struggled to understand his actions.

He said: "People have been left devastated by his actions. He himself has been left devastated by his own actions.""