A ‘SICK’ and ‘perverted’ man was given a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of sexually abusing young girls.

Tears were shed at Mold Crown Court by the jury and members of the public who had followed the trial of Shaun Hawksworth, 33, as a judge handed him a 13-year sentence for raping young girls – who cannot be named for legal reasons – on a number of occasions.

No separate penalty was incurred for possessing dozens of indecent images.

Hawksworth, of North Street in Shotton, pleaded not guilty to all charges against him except for one charge of voyeurism – namely from a secret camera installed in the bathroom of one of his young victims where he filmed children on numerous occasions getting undressed and while in the bath.

Prosecuting, Ffion Tomos, told the court that Hawksworth pleaded not guilty to allegations of making children under the age of seven perform sexual acts upon him, on more than one occasion for each victim.

The trial was told how Hawksworth possessed 27 indecent images in total – two of which were categorised as extreme – and were said to be in a Japanese cartoon-style of young girls performing sexual acts on adult men.

Statements from the girls read out in court say how they ‘struggle to trust men’, ‘have sleepless nights’ and try to ‘keep busy’ or risk having ‘terrible memories’ come ‘flooding back’.

Defending, Phillip Clemo, told the court that Hawksworth was ‘aware of his impending sentence for the serious offences’ and said he would make ‘no unrealistic defences’.

He stressed that Hawksworth has no previous convictions and that this was his first time before the criminal justice system, adding that his client was making steps towards ‘bettering himself’ after being fired from his role at a fast food chain following his arrest for this offence.

A sexual harm prevention order was imposed indefinitely which forbids Hawksworth from being in contact with girls under the age of 16 without the consent of a supervising adult. He must also keep a full record of his internet history and not make attempts to clear them.

Judge Niclas Parry also ordered a destruction order for the computer that Hawksworth possessed the indecent images on.

He said: “You befriended one girl, She trusted you and she allowed you to do what you wanted for sexual gratification because you knew full well that, because of her young age, she knew no better. Your victim was just five years old.” He added that Hawksworth carried out his ‘sick’ and ‘perverted’ sexual fantasies in the real world.