A seX offender who preyed on young girls was jailed for seven years yesterday.

Andrew Hartley, 51, of Ravenna Road, Sunderland, admitted a string of sex offences dating from 1979 up to last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how he would buy the youngsters' silence with sweets and money.

They were aged from about six to 13 or 14 at the time of the assaults.

Judge David Wood branded Hartley a "considerable risk to young children in future" and ordered a further five- year extended supervision period at the end of his jail term.

Hartley admitted 11 charges of indecent assault and one charge of gross indecency with a child.