A PAEDOPHILE binged on child porn hours before he went on to molest four children in their own home. 

Gary Murphy was locked up for six-and-a-half years after a court heard he "picked off the girls, one by one" and abused them. 

The 29-year-old, from Barrow, admitted he had a deep-rooted sexual interest in children which he satisfied by trawling the internet using search terms such as “hot teen girls”. 

But after binging on indecent images in the early hours of the morning of July 27 last year, Murphy attacked the girls who were at home with their mother when he visited. 

Judge Robert Altham, sentencing yesterday at Preston Crown Court, said: “The offences you committed are extremely serious. They involve serious sexual assaults on little girls.” 

The most serious assault was on the youngest of his victims, who the judge said was least able to speak out about what had happened to her. Forensic evidence taken from the girl’s underwear revealed the extent of the abuse against her. 

Judge Altham added: “The tarnishing of that young girl was a very cynical act.” 

Murphy’s offences came to light when the oldest girl told her dad she had been abused by Murphy, when her father returned from work. He confronted the sexual predator - who punched him in the face. 

The children’s parents then spoke to them individually and it emerged Murphy had abused each one of them when he had been alone with them. 

Judge Altham said: “That shows an element of predatory conduct and a degree of planning.” 

When officers seized Murphy’s computer and tablet they found 22 category C abuse images and a single category B image. 

The judge continued: “You need to understand that each one of those images represent a child being abused in order to meet a market that you provide. 

“It is clear from the search engine that you had been on a binge of hunting child pornography in the early hours. 

“This indicates a level of compulsion which gives the court a great deal of concern. 

“I find that the manner in which you committed these offences and the fact that you admit to having a long-standing sexual interest in children indicates that you are someone at high risk of reoffending in a similar way in the future.” 

He handed Murphy a six-and-a -half year extended sentence and ordered him to sign on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Rebecca Joseph, of the South Cumbria Public Protection Unit, said: “These crimes will not be tolerated in Cumbria and I hope the sentence handed out today shows that we will investigate reports of sexual abuse and investigate thoroughly. 

"This case highlights that no matter how old you are, as a victim you will be listened to by our dedicated and professional team and we will work to ensure offenders are brought to justice. 

“This has had a significant impact on the lives of the victims and their families, and we hope that they can now begin to rebuild their lives.”