A PAEDOPHILE who evaded justice for four decades was last night starting a lengthy prison sentence for a catalogue of abuse against four girls.

Brian Teasdale was in his 20s when he indecently assaulted his first victim, but her complaint was dismissed by teachers and he was never prosecuted.

The pervert went on to abuse another youngster in the 1970s and two more in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

The crimes came to light when his final victim told her mother what had been happening and she contacted the police, said prosecutor Ian West.

Detectives probed the background of the 62-year-old former steelworker and the other three victims – by this time adults – told of their ordeals.

Teasdale, of Greenwood Road, Hartlepool , admitted offences of attempted rape, indecent assault and indecency with a child, and was jailed for 11 years.

Judge Tony Briggs told him: “What you did has had a devastating effect on people and has really affected their life and future development.

“You may be coming some way to recognising the enormity of what you did.

“It is not always so much the physical aspect, but the ultimate mental after-effects.”

The judge gave Teasdale credit for admitting ten of the 16 charges he faced on the day of his trial, and sparing his victims the ordeal of giving evidence.

“In cases of this nature, it is important to realise that a public acknowledgement of what people have been saying for some considerable time is true,” he said. “It is a comfort to them and although in no way expunges what happened to them originally, it is a matter of some importance.”

Teasdale was also put on the sex offenders’ register for life, banned from having unsupervised contact with under-16s and from working with children.

Mr West told the court that an indefinite sentence of imprisonment for public protection could not be passed because of the date of the offences.

He said: “The Crown say this man is a danger, even at his advanced age, and even though his last offences were ten years ago or so.”

Lorraine Mustard, mitigating, said: “Any work that can be done with him while in prison can be put to good use and will reduce his risk.”