A PREDATORY paedophile who ruined the lives of his young victims as he sexually exploited them has been jailed for eight years.

Darren Chambers groomed young girls and amassed a sickening collection of vile child abuse images, including some recordings of his own sickening abuse, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

Yet he has shown no remorse. The 31-year-old pervert, from Tomlin Avenue, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to 14 child sex offences.

They consisted of trying to engage a child in sexual communication; breaching his sexual harm prevention order; three counts of making indecent child images; and nine charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard that the defendant had groomed his two young victims - one of them just 14 when he exploited her. One one occasion, Chambers was fooled by an undercover police officer.

Believing he was talking online with a 13-year-old girl, he engaged in highly sexualised conversations. The court heard extracts from the victim impact statements of the two victims he sexually abused. "You clearly in my view groomed her to satisfy your sexual appetite," said Recorder Andrew Nuttall.

Referring to the statement from one girl, the Recorder said: "She says you destroyed her life.

"At one point, she said she did not want to continue with her life... What you did to her was truly life-changing. She says she will struggle to rebuild her life."

The other child's statement was equally poignant. "She describes herself as a shell of herself.

"She says her experience with you has ruined her life. She puts it heartbreakingly in this way: she says she feels broken."

After describing the horrific child abuse images found on the defendant's devices - which he was barred from having because of his previous sexual offences - the Recorder said: "You were offending again within a short time of [your] release.

The judge told Chambers: "You are a paedophile - a predatory one in my judgement. I have seen very little evidence of remorse or true understanding of the devastation you have caused.

"Your interest is clearly in young girls."

The judge said he found Chambers to pose "a significant risk" to the public and a dangerous offender. He imposed eight years jail, specifying that Chambers must serve at least eight years, with a five year extended licence period when the eight years expires. Chambers will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Ian Harwood, of Cumbria Police's Cyber and Digital Crime Unit, said: “Cumbria Constabulary is committed to pursuing those people who choose to commit offences such as this.

“We will not tolerate it and we will be robust in our pursuit, making use of the most advanced technology available.

“We will do everything in our power to bring those committing these offences to justice.

“We encourage anyone who has any suspicions of anything of this nature to contact us on 101.”