A PERVERT who groomed and sexually abused five Dudley schoolgirls has been jailed for seventeen-and-a-half years.

Kevin Giannoni carried out a string of sex attacks on the girls over an eight year period as he trapped them in his "world of sexual depravity".

Judge Simon Ward told the 53-year-old, who had claimed to be a member of St John Ambulance, that it was clear he led a "sexually devious lifestyle", adding that his false claims gave him a "veneer of responsibility".

He said Giannoni, a man of previous good character, had manipulated his young victims so they could be abused after becoming sexually attracted to the girls.

"You abused their trust in a most appalling way for your own sexual perversion," he told Giannoni.

Sharonjit Bahia, prosecuting, said Giannoni gave the girls alcohol, showed them pornographic films and produced sex toys after getting them to treat him as a friend.

He also walked naked around his home, claiming he was a naturist, and told the girls not to tell their parents because they "would not understand".

One of the girls later told police she felt ashamed and embarrassed about Giannoni's behaviour, while another girl had trouble sleeping and felt anxious.

Another girl told police they had gone to the home of Giannoni because it was an "escape" - somewhere they could do what they wanted to do like drink and smoke - but said he had taken away part of her childhood.

Giannoni, of Cannon Drive, Coseley, admitted charges involving sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and making indecent photographs of children.

The judge told him he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and also made him the subject of a lifelong Sexual Harm Protection Order Samantha Powis, defending, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Giannoni was not a member of the St John Ambulance but he was a qualified first aider.

She said that at the time of his offending he had no friends and no female companions and he had "allowed himself to be confused".

Miss Powis said that with help, while serving his prison sentence, he would no longer pose a risk to young children in the future, adding: "He hopes the girls will recover and they will be able to move on with their lives."