A paedophile was given a life sentence today (April 29) for sexually abusing vulnerable young girls in Letchworth.

Phillip Horner, 63, targeted four victims, who were aged between seven and 11, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He was arrested in 2020 when one of them went to the police. In between that time, he had served a 12-year sentence in 2007 for abusing two other young girls.

Horner, of Church Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham, refused to leave his cell at Wandsworth Prison for the third time and was sentenced in his absence by Judge Lana Wood.

On the first occasion, he had said he just did not want to go to court, and last Friday he said he was sick. He was given one final chance to come to court today, but did not appear.

Horner had earlier pleaded guilty to 12 charges of sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 13, buggery and indecent assault. He must serve 10 years and 203 days before he can apply for parole.

Prosecutor Edmund Blackman read personal statements from the victims. One said the abuse had left her with "low confidence and low self-esteem".

She said: "I will always have nightmares about what happened to me when I was a young girl."

A second said: "I was robbed of a normal, happy childhood."

The third said she felt neglected and unloved her whole life, and the fourth said that before the abuse she was a happy child, but had been sexualised at an early age.

Horner was not represented in court.

Passing a life sentence, Judge Wood said Horner targeted vulnerable young girls in the belief that their mothers would not protect them from his abuse.

"His behaviour was predatory. I am satisfied he poses a significant risk to members of the public, specifically young girls," she said.