A Croydon paedophile has been jailed for 18 years for a series of sexual offences against children.

David Defontaine, 53, was sentenced on Friday, June 23, having earlier been found guilty at Croydon Crown Court of 16 counts of sexual abuse against six victims.

The catalogue of abuse stretched back more than 30 years but only came to light to light in 2015 when an 11-year-old girl told her mum about Defontaine.

He was charged with two counts of attempted rape and three of sexual touching and it was this which brought other victims forward and speak abut the abuse Defontaine had subjected them to.

One victim was 14 when she met Defontaine in the 1990s when he was working as a bus driver.

Four other victims were all aged 10 and under.

Defontaine was was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment and will have to serve an additional eight years on licence.

Detective Constable Darren Rose of the Met's Child Abuse Investigation Command said: "This was a campaign of sexual abuse that lasted over thirty years.

"The jury saw through Defontaine's lies and he was described by the judge as 'a persistent and manipulative paedophile'.

"All of the victims are to congratulated for their courage in coming forward and the bravery they showed throughout this trial."

Detective Constable Steve Parker, also of the Child Abuse Investigation Command, added: "Defontaine showed no remorse for the impact his actions have had on his victims.

"I hope that the substantial sentence he has been given offers the victims a measure of comfort and closure."