A YORK paedophile was today starting a sentence of more than 13 years for 20 sex and drug offences against young boys in the city.

Leslie Rix, 40, used alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, bribes and pornographic material to prepare schoolboys for sexual acts over a six-year period, York Crown Court heard.

Julian Goose, prosecuting, said he kept diaries in which he detailed his activities and lists in which he rated his victims sexually.

He has already served a 12-month jail term for soliciting boys.

Judge Paul Hoffman passed a prison and supervision sentence totalling 13 and a half years in a bid to protect the public when Rix is released.

He jailed the child abuser for seven years and warned him that if he breaks his parole or reoffends during the supervision period of the sentence, he could go back behind bars for a further six and a half years.

"You are in my mind a predatory paedophile," he told Rix.

"It is plain that paedophile pursuits are in your blood."

Rix, formerly of Whitehall Lodge, Wigginton Road, York, and various Holgate addresses, pleaded guilty to seven offences of indecent assault, ten of indecency with a child, supplying cannabis to three boys and asked for two more offences to be taken into consideration. In total, he admitted to abusing 12 boys aged between nine and 12 and supplying drugs to the older brother of one of his victims.

The judge commended all 11 police officers who worked for months to bring Rix to justice. He heard they had to interview 71 boys to uncover the extent of the paedophile's crimes.

Det Sgt Steve Maud, who headed Operation Cambridge against Rix, said: "We are very grateful for the support of the children and the families who put their faith in North Yorkshire Police to see this brought to a successful conclusion.

"I think the sentence is fair and it will put Leslie Rix under supervision, probably for the next 14 years."

He paid tribute to his officers, the Crown Prosecution Service and their barristers for the way they had handled a "very sensitive and difficult investigation".

For Rix, Simon Phillips said he had been brutally abused by several adults for much of his Selby childhood. It had affected his personality and made him prefer the company of young boys rather than adults.

Since being remanded in custody in April, he had tried to kill himself and had counselling. He wanted to serve his prison term in a therapeutic prison which specialises in reforming sex offenders.

In the past he had unsuccessfully sought help in dealing with his sexual tendencies.

He had not set up a fishing club deliberately to entice boys into sex with him and he had not used threats against them.

He was a lonely, isolated man who was full of remorse for the suffering he had caused the children and their families.

Updated: 08:21 Thursday, January 24, 2002