A PERVERT who tried to arrange for a prostitute to provide him with two children for sex has been given an extended sentence for public protection.

Raymond Coleman was branded a "significant danger" to girls after a judge at Teesside Crown Court heard of his sickening catalogue of past crimes.

He still denies all but one of the offences he has been found guilty of going back to the 1970s, and shook his head during much of today's (Friday, July 17) hearing.

The 63-year-old told the judge, Recorder Andrew Haslam, "it's all lies" as details of his previous abuse and more recent chilling request were recounted.

Coleman, of Elm Close, Teesville, Middlesbrough, was convicted of two charges of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

During a trial, the jury heard he asked the prostitute to "bring me a ten-year-old" and said: "I'm gagging for a young girl. I haven't had one for a while."

He has a history of offending against children going back four decades, and in 2001, indecently assaulted a seven-year-old, said Shaun Dodds, prosecuting.

Jim Withyman, mitigating, said the only allegation Coleman has admitted was the attempted rape of a girl in a public toilet cubicle when drunk in 1973.

Mr Withyman told the judge: "I regret the mitigation in this case is scarce, verging on the non-existent. It's customary I cannot mitigate on the facts.

"He was convicted after a trial and he still denies that he has any sexual interest in children. That's obviously a worry to the probation service and will obviously be a great concern to Your Honour."

Mr Recorder Haslam told Coleman - who is said to lead a solitary existence: "You have previous convictions, and worrying convictions."

At one point, he broke off to tell him: "It's better if you stop shaking your head. You have spent most of your time shaking your head during my sentencing remarks."

He added: "You represent a significant risk of the commission of further specified offences against children. I have no option but to pass an extended sentence."

Coleman, who will be on the sex offenders' register for life, will serve six years behind bars and a further three years on licence recall under strict supervision.