by Keith Hunt

A paedophile with a "shocking" record for sexually abusing boys has been locked up indefinitely for public protection.

Kenneth Washbrook was banned from unsupervised contact with children when he took three boys out for the weekend and molested them.

The 69-year-old "predator" will not be considered for release until he has served a minimum of two-and-a-half years.

Peter Pay, of Sturla Road, Chatham, accompanied Washbrook on the debauched weekend but did not assault any of the victims.

He admitted breaching the terms of a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) and a suspended sentence and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Washbrook, of Blandford Avenue, Beckenham, admitted six offences of sexual assault and breaching his SOPO.

Judge Philip Statman told him: "I am satisfied you present a significant risk to the public and the only proper way of dealing with you is by an indeterminate sentence.

"It will be for the parole board to consider when it is right and proper and safe for you to be released."

Washbrook and Pay, who met in prison, took the children out in September with parental consent.

They were treated to a Happy Meal at MacDonald's, a day at the beach in Sheerness and taken to The Strand Leisure Park in Gillingham.

Jo Cope, prosecuting, said CCTV at MacDonald's showed Pay, 53, touching the boys at every opportunity. Washbrook was also being very tactile.

The boys, aged seven to nine, later revealed that they had been abused by Washbrook, who has 23 sex offences on his record.

One victim said his pleas to Washbrook to stop were ignored.

Judge Statman said of the victim: "Who was he to turn to while in your wicked grasp?"

He told Washbrook: "There were three very young children at the hands of a sexual predator. You are in my judgement an entrenched sexual offender.

"You are not prepared to work with the authorities in sex offender programmes and are described as being a high risk to children.

"In my judgement, that assessment is wholly correct. You have little, if any, insight into your offending."

The judge said Washbrook would remain on the sex offenders' register and on licence on his release for life.

Pay was sentenced to two years for breaching the SOPO and six months consecutive for breaching his suspended sentence.