TORONTO

Angry victims shouted obscenities at Gardens sex predator Gordon Stuckless as he was led out of court in handcuffs Thursday after being sentenced to six and a half years for molesting 18 boys decades ago.

“My sentence will not undo the harm suffered,” Justice Mara Greene said as she passed sentence.

The 67-year-old former Maple Leaf Gardens employee, hockey and lacrosse coach, and teacher’s assistant pleaded guilty to 100 charges two years ago and was later convicted of two counts of gross indecency against two of the 18 victims.

“No sentence I impose will undo what the victims have suffered,” said Greene.

“It is staggering to think of how many lives Mr. Stuckless has harmed. He abused victims in places that should have been safe havens for young boys ... their homes, at school and at sporting complexes. He turned these places into a nightmare.”

Stuckless — who committed these offences between 1965 and 1988 — has already served a six-year sentence for violating 24 boys, including Martin Kruze, between ’69 and ’88.

Kruze killed himself after Stuckless received a two-years-less-a-day sentence, which was later increased to the equivalent of six years in 1998.

Greene quoted Crown psychiatrist Dr. Mark Pearce’s report that Stuckless “represents a low risk to re-offend.”

Stuckless had six months trimmed from his sentence for time served under house arrest, so his sentence is reduced to six years.

Greene rejected the Crown’s sentence bid of 12 years as excessive, adding it ignores Stuckless’ successful rehabilitation and 15 years of non-offending since he was released in 2001 from his six-year term.

Some victims and their supporters shouted their disapproval at Stuckless and his lenient sentence.

“I’ve had (expletive) nightmares longer than six years,” one man screamed at the handcuffed predator.

“You damaged generations,” snapped an angry victim.

Stuckless’ lawyer, Ari Goldkind, said his client underwent chemical castration for more than 10 years to prevent recidivism.

“He turned his life around. He made a vow never to harm another hair on a child’s head. Those are the facts,” Goldkind said.

Crown attorney Kelly Beale praised the victims for coming forward.

“I want to commend the 18 amazing men for their strength and courage to come forward,” Beale said.

Martin Kruze’s brother, Gary, told reporters the sentence was “absolutely deplorable and a joke.”

“Justice Greene was tied to historical comparisons and that’s the real problem. We need to change the laws,” said Kruze, who wants tougher mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abusers similar to Florida’s 25-year minimum for first offenders.

spazzano@postmedia.com