A PAEDOPHILE who put four children "through hell" as he carried out years of sexual abuse has been jailed for 20 years.

In their personal statements, the victims described how the crimes of Daniel Brian Baines, of York, had a devastating impact on their personal lives.

It had also affected their relationships with other people years later, York Crown Court heard.

At the time they were being abused none of the victims knew that Baines had abused other children until all four spoke to police and gave evidence against him.

“He has put us through hell through what he did to us and then by trying to lie his way out,” said one of the victims in her statement, which was read to the court.

Another said Baines had affected her childhood to the extent she became sexualised too early.

Another described the years since she had given her police statement as the “worst two years of her life”.

More than one told how the strain of giving evidence against Baines had affected them so much they had been crying as they left court.

They had kept silent during and after the abuse because they had been embarrassed and for other reasons, the court was told.

Baines, now 29, of Ganton Place, York, denied two charges of rape, 13 of sexual assault, one of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child.

But he was convicted by a York jury last month and appeared at York Crown Court on Monday, May 17, to be handed his sentence.

He was jailed for 20 years and put on the sex offenders’ register for life.

All the victims are now adults, the crown court was told.

Two of Baines' offences make him an offender of “special concern” and mean that he will have an extra year being supervised by the probation service after he finishes his sentence.

The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, heard the personal statements of all four victims.

The judge said the effect of Baines' crimes on the victims had been “devastating”.

Baines’ decision to deny the charges and force them to give evidence had been “cruel”, he said.

“This should have been a case where you admitted your wrong doing,” Judge Morris told Baines.

“But you are still in denial, despite the most overwhelming, convincing evidence given by [the victims].”

York Crown Court heard Baines started the abuse when he was still a child himself.

His barrister Sean Smith said the offences were the result of “distorted thinking”.

This hadn’t been tackled and changed before he became an adult, heard the court.

Baines had not offended for some years, the defence barrister said.