AN EVIL man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting to a string of historic child sex offences.

Peter Fisher, 62, committed a series of sex acts on schoolboys aged between nine and 13 over the course of 20 years, with a total of 24 charges against him.

The disgraced former football referee exploited his position of power to trick a total of eight young boys, with the most recent of the offences taking place in 2002.

In some cases he would babysit for the victims, or lure them into his home under false pretences and get naked in front of them, while playing pornographic films.

Other victims were told to masturbate in front of him after he offered them pornographic magazines in his car.

The sentencing was held at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday and Fisher, of Burghfield Common, was told he had every right to feel 'ashamed' for his crimes.

Charles Ward-Jackson, prosecuting, said: "The nature of the offending took many forms.

"When the defendant was driving them home he would stop in car parks, before asking them to touch themselves.

"He found them attractive and there was an element of planning in most of these cases."

Judge Johanna Cuts commended the bravery of the victims for having the courage to come forward and hoped they would be able to move on after carrying the pain for so many years.

She added: "In each case, you sought time alone with them [the victims] and you frequently showed them pornographic magazines and in two cases films.

"I am told that you are overwhelmed by a sense of shame and quite frankly so you should be.

"Your offending had a considerable impact on the victims you exploited. Only a custodial sentence can be justified and it must be of some considerable length."

Nichola Cafferkey, mitigating, explained how Fisher had suffered from severe anxiety and depression for many years, which resulted in him spending time at Prospect Park Hospital.

One of his victims said: "What happened has caused me great emotional distress and issues. I have carried this for a long time and now I know what Mr Fisher was doing was wrong.

"He encouraged me at such a young age and this has caused me issues throughout my life."

Fisher will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely and will have the option to serve part of his sentence on licence.