A man is starting an 11-year jail sentence after a judge described him as depraved and perverted.
David Buckley, 61, preyed on young girls over an 18-year period before details of his rapes and indecent assaults came to light.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard yesterday how Buckley admitted everything when police quizzed him and he said he wanted to apologise to his victims.
He admitted five rapes, two attempted rapes, seven indecent assaults and six charges of indecency with children when he appeared in court.
Judge Gareth Hawkesworth jailed him for a total of 11 years and ordered him to stay on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.
“These were sexual offences of a grave and depraved nature,” Judge Hawkesworth told Buckley.
The judge also told him his behaviour had been “wicked and perverted.”
The court heard Buckley, of Heath Road, Lexden, abused his three victims who were aged between seven and 13.
Buckley was arrested in October last year and made a full confession to police, the court heard.
Stephen Dyble, mitigating, said Buckley was full of remorse and wished to apologise to his victims. The chances of him committing similar offences were remote, Mr Dyble said.
