A pervert who committed a catalogue of sexual abuse on five boys dating back four decades could die in prison after being jailed for 14 years.

Edward Dalton is suffering from a number of serious illnesses - including emphysema and asbestosis - and uses a wheelchair, a court heard.

"He is very ill," his lawyer Barry Gilbert told Judge Michael Carroll. "His life expectancy is pretty short. As a simple matter of fact, it seems to me unless you are very generous in what ever sentence you pass, he will die in prison."

The 65-year-old former merchant seaman, born in Strood, raped four boys and attempted to have sex with another, starting when he was just 17. It continued after he married and had children.

Dalton, now of Clacton, Essex, admitted 12 serious sexual offences and one of indecent assault. He denied seven other serious sexual offences, two of indecency with a child and one of indecent assault, and they were left on the court file.

He was living with his family on a farm in Halstead, Sevenoaks, when he started committing the offences as a teenager.

"He had a drink problem," James Dawes, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court. "When drunk, his mood was irregular and unpleasant."

His first victim was aged 12 when he was taken to a remote spot and forced to have sex. It happened on a second occasion.

Mr Dawes said the second victim pushed Dalton away when he tried to abuse him. He made a complaint but was branded a liar. But when older, aged 12, Dalton raped him several times.

He would say "Come here" and hold the child's arm up his back as he abused him.

"this was about as serious a catalogue of offending as one can imagine. i heard about your larger-than-life personality. i am satisfied you took advantage of that position..." – judge michael carroll

A third victim described Dalton as "the life and soul of the party", a powerful individual and a constant source of entertainment to children. On one occasion, he took the boy to some woods and had sex with him.

The fourth boy described Dalton as "a big strong man". He was called into a garage and Dalton abused him as he told him: "This is what happens in love." It happened about 30 times.

Dalton was naked when he approached the final victim, but was pushed away before he could have sex with him.

Judge Carroll told Dalton: "You pleaded guilty to what can only be described as a catalogue of sexual predatory offending. I take into account the only real mitigation, and that is your guilty pleas.

"I note your age. I also know your victims have had their whole adult life to ponder and consider what you did to them all those years ago.

"This was about as serious a catalogue of offending as one can imagine. I heard about your larger-than-life personality. I am satisfied you took advantage of that position."

Placing Dalton on the sex offenders' register indefinitely, the judge added he was unlikely to be released until he had served two-thirds of the sentence.