A PAEDOPHILE who organised a party where he got young girls drunk so he could abuse them was today (Thursday, November 12) locked up for 23 years and branded "dangerous" by a judge.

Mark Madrell was accused of showing "not an ounce of remorse" despite admitting a string of rapes, sexual assaults on underage children and grooming offences over a prolonged period.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the 37-year-old would try to bribe his victims with gifts, and isolated one girl, manipulating circumstances so he could repeatedly prey on her.

Joanne Kidd, prosecuting, described a party Madrell organised where he supplied the young girls with alcohol, cigarettes and gifts.

"There were bottles of alcopops, cider, lager and whisky," she said. "During the course of the evening he plied them with drink, provided them with cigarettes and then began a rather bizarre food fight."

Madrell, who portrayed himself as the "life and soul of the party", drenched his victims, then watched them get changed, spying on one girl in the shower.

The girls later told their parents what happened and Madrell was arrested, but it was not until later that his more serious offending against one of the four victims came to light.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, sentenced Madrell, previously of Prior Court, Billingham, to 23 years jail with an extended six-year licence period.

The judge described his offending as "beyond any sensible, right-thinking person's comprehension" and the said the girl he repeatedly raped will never be the same again.

He told Madrell: "You have completely destroyed her life. The psychological scars are deep and permanent and you remain in complete denial as to that.

"You may have pleaded guilty to these offences but you have shown not one ounce of remorse."

The court heard how Madrell made comments while a pre-sentence report was being prepared by a probation official that "sex was part of life".

The judge said: "These are deeply concerning aspects of the report and confirm to me that you are a dangerous individual."

There were cries of "yes" in the public gallery when Madrell, who appeared via a live video-link from prison and was holding a metal crutch, was sentenced.

He must serve at least two-thirds of his 23-year jail term behind bars, and will only be released before that time has passed if the Parole Board agrees.

Madrell admitted six counts of rape, four counts of sexually assaulting a child, two of causing a girl to engage in sexual activity, one of causing a child to watch a sexual act and two of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.