A Bristol man took indecent photos of boys and pictured himself sexually abusing them.
Martin Berry regularly had the children at he and his partner's home for games and sleepovers, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Unbeknown to parents who trusted him, he was a convicted paedophile who sexually exploited the youngsters for his own perverted ends.
Berry, 58, now said to be of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to multiple sexual assault and attempted sexual assault as well as causing the sexual exploitation of a child.
Today (February 12, 2020) he also pleaded guilty to a further charge of causing the sexual exploitation of a child, two charges of voyeurism and possessing indecent images of a child.
The recorder Mr Adam Vaitilingam QC handed him a 12-year prison sentence with four years' extended licence.
He told Berry: "You are a sophisticated sex offender with previous convictions and a caution for sex offences.
"You identified families with young children.
"You manipulated parents into trusting you.
"You manipulated children into trusting you too.
"This was a gross breach of trust which the parents and children placed in you."
Berry was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him re-offending and his electronic devices were forfeited.
Fiona Elder, prosecuting, said Berry sexually abused three boys aged between five and 11.
As well as touching their private parts Berry was found to have photos on his phone in which he captured his indecent acts or photographed the boys in semi-clad or naked poses.
One lad was asleep when Berry abused him, the court heard.
When police forensically examined his phone they found videos and stills of unknown youngsters aged between five and 12 being sexually abused, which he accessed via the dark web.
Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said as a child her client was sent to a "boarding school for maladjusted boys" where he took comfort from sexual behaviour with other pupils.
He then joined the Army aged 16.
She said Berry had stated: "I'm utterly horrified as to what I've done.
"I sincerely apologize to all the boys and their families.
"I'm willing to enter therapy if offered."
Miss Macfarlane described her client's health as "chronically bad", having suffered an amputated leg following severe osteoarthritis.
