A GRANDDAD who raped and sexually abused girls as young as eight in a children’s home has been jailed.

Christopher Hartley, from Great Sankey, used his position at Harris Children’s Home in Preston to rape and sexually abuse young girls in the 1970s.

Today, Friday, the former soldier was given 13 years behind bars for a catalogue of abuse committed against five victims more than 40 years ago.

Preston Crown Court heard that Hartley’s mum and dad were houseparents at the orphanage, which he exploited in order to abuse four girls living in the children’s home as well as a young member of staff.

Now 57, the married granddad was aged between 11 and 17 at the time of his offending.

Children’s football coach Hartley, of Denham Avenue, sexually assaulted three of his victims when they were aged between eight and 14 and forced them to perform indecent acts during years of abuse.

In a statement read out in court, one of the women described how Hartley's abuse still causes her to have anxiety and panic attacks.

He raped and sexually assaulted a fourth victim, who has since attempted to take her own life a number of times.

The court heard that Hartley had also forced her to perform sexual acts on a ‘distressed’ young boy, an incident for which no charges were brought against the home improvement worker.

Hartley, who has no previous convictions, also sexually assaulted a 16-year-old who was working at the children’s home.

Prosecuting barrister Barbara Hargreaves said: “The defendant was described by the complainants as a sly and cunning individual who would manipulate situations so that he could be alone with them and sexually abuse them.

“He would use any chink in their armour to his advantage – he knew the reasons that each complainant was at the home and manipulate this for his own gratification.”

Hartley, who joined the army when he was 16 and served until the 1990s, was convicted of a total of 23 charges – including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and indecency – against the five women in November after he was found unanimously guilty by a jury following a trial.

Today, Friday, four of his victims watched on from the public gallery as their abuser was jailed for 13 years by his honour judge Mark Brown.

He described Hartley as ‘bullying and manipulative’, adding that he had ‘stolen his victim’s childhoods and ruined their adult lives’.

Sentencing, judge Brown said: “It is often said that grave crimes cast long shadows, and it was obvious to see when these women were giving evidence during your trial that these offences have had a profound impact on them.

“You maintain that all the complaints made against you are fabricated and you have shown no remorse for your crimes.”

The NSPCC has praised Hartley’s victims for showing ‘immense courage’ in order to bring their abuser to justice.

A spokesman for the charity said: “The victims in this case have shown immense courage in coming forward and giving evidence about the abuse they were subjected to as children.

“This case shows that no matter how much time has passed, victims of abuse can come forward with the confidence they will be listened to.

“Child sexual abuse can have devastating and long-lasting effects and it is important that the victims in this case receive all the support they need to move forward.”

Andy Woodmass of Lancashire Police’s Operation Fervent, which investigates historial sex abuse cases, described Hartley’s crimes as ‘harrowing’.

He said: “I commend the victims’ bravery in coming forward and reliving their oredeals in order to give evidence.

“This is a significant sentence which reflects the harrowing nature of the offences.

“Lancashire Constabulary remains committed to investigating offences of this nature, no matter how historic, and we would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally.”