A man who subjected children to "utterly vile and depraved" sexual abuse could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Joseph Davey, 61, a former steel workers’ union branch president, was jailed indefinitely on Friday for public protection.

A judge said he poses a significant risk of re-offending and ordered that he must serve a minimum of eight years before being considered for parole.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Davey, formerly of Sheerness, subjected his victims to various sex acts including rape. He also took photographs.

Prosecutor Deborah Charles said the former Merchant Navy seaman told one girl that if she told anyone of the abuse, she would be the one who went to prison.

Davey, now of Coventry, West Midlands, admitted four charges of rape, five of sexual activity with a child, one of indecent assault, three of indecency with a child, one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of causing child pornography.

He also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in relation to trying to make one of his victims retract her statement to the police.

Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Patience QC described the consequences of Davey’s offending as "devastating".

"You treated them in a way which was cruel, degrading, humiliating and deeply, deeply damaging. What you did is also properly described as utterly vile and depraved and done simply for your own sexual gratification.

"Their impact statements speak eloquently of lives so damaged that I fear even the passage of time may not heal them."

Crispian Cartwright, defending, told the court Davey had been regarded highly by former work colleagues in the steel industry, having been appointed secretary and later president of his local union branch.

"All that reputation now counts for nothing," he said.

If released Davey will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which includes a ban on having unsupervised contact with children. He must also sign on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.