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Sick scout master Ronald Curran turned his home into a "kids' club" to lure young victims so he could abuse them.

Boys and girls were attracted to seemingly respectable Curran's home and allotment with the promise of cold drinks, ice creams, pet hamsters, a dog called Rags, bonfires and a model-making and woodwork room.

But behind the cloak of decency afforded to him by his role with the Scouts, lurked a twisted paedophile who repeatedly struck during the 1970s and 80s.

As we reported previously, Curran, formerly of Mead Way, Forest Hall, North Tyneside, was jailed for four years in 1995 and in 2013 for abusing youngsters.

Now, after more victims came forward, the 82-year-old has been given a 15 year prison sentence for sexually abusing five children.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he had caused "severe psychological harm" during a shocking campaign of sickening abuse on victims aged as young as six.

Prosecutor Daniel Cordey told the court: "On the surface, he appeared to be a friendly neighbour who always had time for local children.

"In reality, his lifestyle, hobbies and interests were designed to bring him into contact with children in order that he could sexually abuse them."

Mr Cordey said Curran took advantage of a time when children had a lot more freedom to play outside.

He added: "He would allow local children to pay on his allotment, give them cold drinks and ice cream. His allotment became a hub of activity for children.

"At home he had a woodwork room where they could make model aeroplanes. He had a motorbike and pets such as hamsters and a dog."

Mr Cordey said one victim "remembers the defendant's address in the 1980s as being like a kids' club".

The court heard Curran's victims have been affected by their ordeals as children through into adulthood and have suffered flashbacks, nightmares and other issues.

One complainant said: "He ruined part of my childhood that I can't get back. No apology, remorse or sentence can change that."

Another said: "He told me if I ever told my parents they would either not believe me or I would get the blame. I remember how trapped this made me feel.

"I just wanted him to stop abusing me. I regularly cried myself to sleep."

Another victim said the activities available at Curran's house and allotment, in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside were "nothing more than a trap".

Curran was convicted by a jury of two offences of buggery in relation to one boy and pleaded guilty to nine offences of indecent assault in relation to four other children.

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced Curran to 15 years behind bars with lifelong sex offender registration.

The judge told him: "All of these offences involved a significant degree of grooming.

"The scouts was one of the ways you arranged your life to ensure you had contact with children within your target age.

"The abuse took place in the context of activities designed to attract children into your company."

Jessica Slaughter, defending, said Curran, who is now in a wheelchair, has mental health problems and was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last week.

Miss Slaughter said Curran has expressed "considerable disgust and shame" at his own actions and had tried to seek help in the 1980s.

Miss Slaughter said Curran has a "diminished life expectancy" due to his illnesses and added: "He knows the sort of sentence he is looking at today.

"He knows, due to his ill health, the reality of what that means for him."

Detective Constable Martin Gibson, of Northumbria Police, said: “It is always a welcome result when we see victims getting justice after suffering in silence for so long.

"The victims bravely spoke out against Curran who abused them from such a young age and to see him now behind bars, it can give them a sense of closure.

"It is so important to speak out and I’d urge any victim of sexual abuse to come forward."