'Despicable' paedo pals jailed for child sex abuse

PAIR CARRIED OUT 'DEPRAVED' ACTS OVER 40 YEARS AGO

- By ESTHER HALLIGAN

TWO men have been jailed for the horrific sexual abuse of children on Teesside over 40 years ago.

Colin Smith, 75, raped a boy and sexually assaulted two other children.

On one occasion, friend Kevin Danks, 61, tried to pull down a young girl's pants as she fought back. Smith then sexually assaulted her.

On another occasion, Teesside Crown Court has heard that Smith offered to pay a girl 50p if he could touch her.

On Friday, the two men appeared in court on separate video links from Holme House prison to be sentenced.

Statements from the victims were read out in court. One man said he had been "robbed of my childhood."

He said he left school with no qualifications and "drifted into a world of drink and drugs to numb the pain."

The second victim said he was hospitalised at one point "due to the trauma I suffered as a child. I think about the sexual abuse everyday."