A CHILD sex beast from Accrington has been locked up indefinitely for public protection after he confessed to claiming three more victims.

Ashley Gilheaney, 22, is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a young boy in woodland and raping another youngster.

But while in prison Gilheaney, of Hood Street, asked for detectives to vist him in custody, Preston Crown Court was told.

Paul Cummings, prosecuting, said he confessed to targetting three other young boys in Accrington between February 2006 and March 2010.

He told police he had been using amphetamines at the time and could not recall the exact dates when he struck.

One of the victims was aged nine and Gilheaney performed a sex act on him and groped him.

Gilheaney had full sex with a second boy against his will and only stopped when the youngster protested.

Mr Cummings said a third victim, aged 10, was groped and then forced to remove his clothing before being subjected to a sex act.

The boys were all interviewed later on video and variously told police how they had felt 'frightened' or 'threatened' by Gilheaney's advances.

Passing sentence, Judge Pamela Badley imposed a sentence of indeterminate imprisonment for public protection, with a recommendation he serves at least five years behind bars.

The families of Gilheaney's victims were in court to hear sentence being passed and several had to leave as his offending was detailed.

Gilheaney admitted three offences of rape, two offences of sexual assault and one offence of sexual touching.