A RAPIST has been jailed for 30 years for an “unforgiveable and shocking catalogue of sexual depravity” involving toddlers.

Friends and associates of Nathan Woodsspringer, 37, thought of him as a “kind, gentle” caring person, his barrister Glenn Parsons told York Crown Court.

But they didn’t know that he was filming himself repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting very young children.

“I hope he is sick every day like he made me sick,” one child told police later.

Brian Russell, prosecuting, said Woodsspringer was arrested after some of the victims revealed what he had done.

Police found hundreds of indecent images of children on his phone, including more than 200 he had made of himself abusing children, and had downloaded from the internet 220 more of the worst category of indecent images of children and nearly 400 of the other two categories.

He initially denied any wrong-doing but he later confessed, pleaded guilty in court and then contacted police through his lawyers to tell them he had committed more offences, which he later also pleaded guilty to.

York Crown Court heard how the abuse they had suffered left children too scared to go to sleep, suffering from night terrors and terrified of adults but they were now receiving help in dealing with their trauma.

READ MORE: How the toddlers' courage is bringing hope to other victims of rape and sexual abuse. 

Woodsspringer, of Springfield Road, Sherburn-in-Elmet, pleaded guilty to six charges of rape, nine of sexual assault, seven of taking or downloading indecent images of children and one of voyeurism.

Passing a 36-year extended prison sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment with six years’ extended parole licence, the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, told Woodsspringer: “You committed a most unforgiveable and shocking catalogue of sexual depravity against extremely young children who were highly vulnerable.”

Woodsspringer was put on the sex offenders’ register for life and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order controlling his access to children and the internet, also for life.  He will never work with children again.

Mr Parsons said Woodsspringer was sorry for what he had done.

“These offences have had a devastating effect on all those around him,” said Mr Parsons. They had known him as a “kind, gentle” caring person but now they had “seen behind the mask”.

At the time of the offences, Woodsspringer had been suffering from a mixture of depression, and feeling anger and isolation because he had difficulty in coming to terms with recent bereavement.