A “predatory paedophile” who carried out a string of serious sexual assaults on four children - raping one of them - was jailed for the protection of the public.

A “predatory paedophile” who carried out a string of serious sexual assaults on four children - raping one of them - was jailed for the protection of the public.

Alan Fitzpatrick, 37, filmed an act of sexual abuse he carried out on one of his victims and offered to pay for a phone top-up for another child after he had sexually assaulted her, Norwich Crown Court heard,

He was arrested after one of his victims made a complaint - but he then tried to commit suicide in Ireland by taking a cocktail of tablets and alcohol.

Norfolk police tracked him down.

The court heard Fitzpatrick already had convictions for assaulting boys under 14 while working as a Scout master in Croydon in 1992, for which he was jailed for seven months. He was also jailed for three years in Dublin in 1997 for indecently assaulting a young girl. On his release he came to live in Yarmouth, which is where he was arrested for his most recent sex abuse of children.

Fitzpatrick admitted two counts of raping a boy and one indecent assault on the same victim. He also admitted attempted rape of a girl aged 15 and two indecent assaults on the same girl. He also admitted attempted rape and one indecent assault on another girl and two sex assaults on another young boy.

Andrew Baxter, prosecuting, said when arrested, Fitzpatrick admitted he was sexually attracted to children and needed help for his problem.

Judge Paul Downes imposed an indeterminate sentence on Friday under which Fitzpatrick will not be considered for release until he is no longer considered a risk to the public. He will have to serve at least 6½ years before he is considered for release.

Judge Downes told him: “You have been candid about your sexual preferences and regard yourself as a paedophile. You are described as being alarmingly predatory.”

He also placed him on the sex- offender register for life and banned him from working with children.

Fitzpatrick is also prohibited under a sexual-offences prevention order from ever being alone with a child under 16.

David Wilson, mitigating, said that Fitzpatrick had spared any of the victims coming to court to give evidence by his guilty pleas. He said he was full of remorse. “He is determined to seek help for the significant problem he has,” he said.

After the case, Det Insp Matt Sharman described Fitzpatrick as a “very dangerous man”.

He said “It is entirely appropriate he should locked up for as long as possible.”

Det Insp Sharman said good police work had ensured that Fitzpatrick had returned to Norfolk from Ireland to face the charges and he particularly praised the work of Acting Det Sgt Vicky Flatt.