A PREDATORY paedophile who raped two children and abused another in East Lancashire has been jailed for 21 years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how 46-year-old Paul Whitehouse raped two of his victims more than once and offered one of them presents, such as shoes, in exchange for sexual favours.

The second feared one of Whitehouse’s sexual attacks had got her pregnant.

On one occasion he grabbed that complainant by the throat and threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone what he had done.

Although the third victim said Whitehouse only sexually assaulted them on one occasion, the court was told threats were made by the defendant in a bid to ensure the truth never came out.

Prosecuting, David Traynor said Whitehouse’s youngest victim was just six when the abuse started and that assaults took place at multiple locations in East Lancashire.

Judge Sara Dodd said Whitehouse had caused his victims serious and long-lasting psychological harm and had driven one of them to a suicide attempt.

She said: “You are rightly described as a predatory and manipulative sexual offender. You, I am satisfied, are self-obsessed and have not a shred of insight into the consequences of your offending for your victims.”

Judge Dodd said an aggravating feature was that Whitehouse had denied allegations of child sexual abuse when interviewed by police three times – in 2007, 2013 and 2016.

And he continued to plead his innocence until the day he was due to stand trial in February. On that occasion he admitted 12 counts of sexual abuse, including charges of rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, sexual assault on a child under 13 and rape of a child under 13.

Whitehouse, of Castle Street, Brierfield, also pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). That related to an incident in July when he was left unsupervised at home with three children.

Mr Traynor said that incident put him in breach of a SOPO he received at the same court in 2013 after he was convicted of having sex three times with a 14-year-old girl he had groomed on a gaming website. He was jailed for five years and given a four-year extended licence for those offences.

Defending, Brigid Bailie said her client had himself been subjected to sexual abuse when he was in a young offenders’ institution, something that he said led to him being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

She added: “The pre-sentence report describes Mr Whitehouse as being ashamed and disgusted. He has started to accept what he has done.”

Det Cons Deborah Sethi said: “We are extremely satisfied with the sentence handed down and hope seeing John Whitehouse brought to justice enables the victims to begin moving forward with their lives.

“We also hope it sends a message that at Lancashire Police we take all reports of sexual offences very seriously. If anyone has been the victim of a sexual offence – recently or in the past – we would urge them to come forward and report it to us in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally at all times.

“Offences can be reported to us on 101, or anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Judge Dodd deemed Whitehouse as posing a serious risk and made him subject to an eight-year extended licence.