A youth worker has been jailed for sex offences on girls as young as four-years-old.

Howard Zin Green, 47, targeted as many as 10 victims between the ages of four and 16 over a 15-year period from 1979 to 1994.

At the time of the offences, Green, now unemployed, of Queens Avenue in Greenford, Ealing, was working as a volunteer for youth groups and a church school.

An investigation into Green's activities was launched by the Child Abuse Investigation Command in Barnet, in October 2006, following two allegations of assault on a 14-year-old between 2002 and 2004.

Green pleaded guilty in March to one count of rape, three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, two on a girl under 16 and two more on women over the age of consent.

He was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Friday at Wood Green Crown Court. A further 11 offences are to remain on file.

advertisementInvestigating officer Detective Constable Hannah Rose said: "I would like to pay tribute to the victims of Howard Green who had the courage and trust in the police to come forward and report their harrowing experiences to us. I am thankful for them that he chose to plead guilty rather than subject them to a trial.

"I hope this case encourages other victims of assault to speak to police. They can be assured that we will treat them with empathy and conduct a thorough investigation into their allegations."