A PAEDOPHILE known to one of his victims as “Uncle Den” has been jailed for ten years after grooming girls as young as eight.

Dennis Bullard, 73, first preyed on the pair more than 30 years ago, causing distress which will “no doubt be with them throughout their lives”, the judge said.

The dad-of-two admitted to ten counts of indecent assault against a child under 13 and was sentenced today (May 24) at Chelmsford Crown Court while at least one of the brave women sat in the public gallery.

Judge David Pugh said: “According to the pre-sentence report, you appear to minimise the seriousness of your actions by shifting some of the blame.

“You don’t recognise the harm and fear you imposed on your victims and fail to take full responsibility for your offending.

“The report concludes that you represent a further risk of future harm to young and vulnerable members of the public, and I agree.”

The same report labelled Bullard, of Chaney Road, Wivenhoe, a paedophile, which the court heard he struggled to cope with and accept.

A “remorseful” Bullard, supported by his daughter and a church reverend, had also broken down during confession after disclosing his crimes, defence barrister Hannah Sutton said.

But the impact on one his victims, one who he told would learn to enjoy his assaults and laughed at her, has been significant, the court heard.

Stephen Rose, prosecuting, said: “During her teenage years and adult life, she described her sense of worth being so deeply affected.

“There’s been ongoing impact in terms of forming relationships.”

Mr Rose said Bullard was in a position of trust and would take the children for walks and drives and abuse them in his home.

Some of those locations included woods in Wivenhoe and near Essex University.

Once Bullard had told a girl he “shouldn’t be doing this”, the court heard, but would also ask them if they were enjoying it.

Mr Rose said: “These sorts of words are indicative of the deliberate grooming approach the defendant took.”

Bullard's sentence has an additional extended four-year licence period.

He is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order until further notice.