Jack Morris, 59, of Church Street, Dewsbury, admits catalogue of offences

Jack Morris, 59, admitted carrying out a catalogue of paedophilia offences against his victims.

Morris has a previous conviction, dating from 1986, for sexually assaulting a vulnerable man in his care in a hospital.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that he began abusing the boys more than 20 years ago.

Prosecutor Sophie Drake said one child cried as he was being sexually assaulted. Morris brainwashed him into believing it was his own fault.

The youngster became depressed and self-harmed.

Morris’s second victim was scared and confused about what was being done to him.

Both he and the third child had grown up to need counselling. They still suffered panic attacks and anxiety.

Miss Drake said Morris, now of Church Street, Dewsbury, was given a suspended prison term for sexually abusing the vulnerable man.

Morris’s barrister, Zia Chaudhry, mitigating, conceded the offences were “vile” but he had admitted them and spared the men from having to give evidence in court.

Judge Peter Benson told Morris, who was wearing a mauve shirt and matching tie, he was guilty of “flagrant and wicked abuse”.

“Your actions have left indelible scars.

“All of them have suffered psychologically in later life from the abuse you perpetuated on them.

“You are a thoroughly wicked and evil person,” the judge said.

Morris must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Judge Benson made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from contacting his victims and having unsupervised contact with children.

After the case, Detective Constable Kirsty Smith, of Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “We welcome the substantial sentence imposed on Morris and hope it will serve as a warning to others of how seriously the courts will treat offences of this nature.

“I would also like to pay tribute to his victims and the courage they have shown throughout this case. We hope his conviction will provide some source of comfort to them.”