A RAPIST who repeatedly abused four children as young as seven has been jailed for 20 years.

Prolific paedophile Michael Nicholls, of Ainsdale Road, Great Lever, preyed on the children, raping and abusing them after their parents allowed him into their homes.

At the time Michael Nicholls, aged 34, was a Blackpool Pleasure Beach worker and was homeless and sofa-surfing around the Fylde Coast.

He committed his crimes between 2003 and 2010 against three girls and a boy who were all aged 10 and under.

At Preston Crown Court Judge Christopher Cornwall branded Nicholls a dangerous offender, saying there was a serious risk he would strike again if he was at liberty to do so.

Nicholls will only be released from prison if a parole board deem he is no longer a danger to the public.

One of his victims broke down in court as she read a harrowing statement about being raped repeatedly by Nicholls when she was just seven years old.

The woman, who can not be named for legal reasons, said: “I lived a normal childhood until Michael Nicholls came into my life.

“Now, as an adult, I still struggle to trust men. I am ashamed of my body because of the way he used me and made me feel.

“He came into my bedroom when I was seven years old and he took my innocence away with him.

“He ruined my childhood.”

Other victims spoke of how they struggled to trust people and form relationships through their teenage years and had self-harmed.

One man, who was abused from the age of seven to 18, said: “I did not know it was wrong at the time. When I found out it was wrong, I didn’t want to be me with all the memories of what he did to me.

“Just when I feel I am moving past this, I get sucked back in”

One said she had spent 45 minutes in the shower, scrubbing herself, after reliving the abuse when she gave evidence at his trial in June.

During the trial Nicholls maintained he was innocent and accused his victims of lying when they took to the witness box to testify against him.

But Judge Cornwall stressed to Nicholls: “None of these children should feel guilty or to blame.

“The one person who should feel guilty is the one person who dismisses the whole case as lies.

“There is only one liar in this room, and that is you.”

The court heard Nicholls has health problems, including epilepsy, asthma, depression and mobility problems.

He has been placed on suicide watch in prison, the judge was told.

Judge Cornwall handed Nicholls an extended sentence for public protection comprising of 20 years in custody and an additional seven years on licence.