A CHILD rapist who used his interest in photography to “get alone time with girls” has been jailed for a series of vile sex offences.

Patrick Wakefield, 52, was jailed for 13 years at Basildon Crown Court yesterday after being found guilty at trial of a string of child sex offences, including two counts of rape.

The court heard how Wakefield, of Twyford Avenue, Great Wakering, left his victims “badly scarred”.

Sentencing Wakefield, Judge Ian Graham said: “You used your interest of photography to get alone time with these girls.

“You bought them presents and gave them money to peruse this course of conduct.

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“The remorse you speak of would have been more open if you had admitted these crimes and saved these girls going through a trial.

“It’s clear they were left badly scarred by the experiences.”

Mitigating, Christopher Martin told the court Wakefield had lived in poverty as a child which has severely impacted his life.

A letter from Wakefield was read out in court by Mr Martin.

It said: “Now I realise and can accept something was very wrong with what happened and what I caused.

“I am remorseful and my arrest was really a blessing and needed to happen.

“I am terribly sorry.”

Mr Martin told the court Wakefield’s family was so poor he and siblings were forced to steal food from allotments to eat.

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He added: “He’s had a relationship with his partner for the past few decades and she’s suffered significantly due to this.

“They have a mortgage on a home and his incarceration has caused issues with that and their finances.

“He had a pretty tough upbringing and experienced domestic abuse.”

Wakefield admitted charges of taking indecent photographs of a child, making indecent photographs of a child, and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

He initially denied five counts of sexual assaulting a child under 13, two counts of rape of a child under 13, three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sexual act, but was convicted following a trial.