A remorseless child rapist taunted his victims as he was taken to the cells and sentenced to prison for his sick crimes.
Jason Clarke thanked Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, after receiving the lengthy jail term and said "bye" to the public gallery as he was led away from the dock.
The judge blasted the 48-year-old's “truly despicable” behaviour, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Clark robbed his victims of their childhoods by subjecting them to horrific abuse over several years.
He was locked up for 24 years after being convicted by jurors of two dozen sex offences, including several counts of rape.
His victims' bravery in coming forward years after the crimes had led to the Merseyside Police investigation that ended with him being sentenced on Monday.
After Judge Goldstone handed Clarke his sentence, the sex offender threw his head and shoulders back and said: “Thank you very much.”
As he walked out of the dock he looked at those he had tormented before telling one person in the public gallery “bye”.
After the remorseless bully had left, Judge Goldstone praised the sensitivity of the barristers who had been involved in Clarke’s trial, Arthur Gibson and Sarah Holt, before telling the court: “I am only sorry for the way in which the defendant left… as truly despicable and offensive as it was”.
Clarke, most recently of Hollins Drive in Stafford, was told he must serve at least 16 years of his sentence before being considered for release.
He was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will also have to sign the sex offenders register for life.
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