A 22-year-old man described by a judge as a sexual predator who targeted a string of underage girls for sex, meeting some of his victims at roller skating venues, has today been jailed for eight years and placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Scott Jackson had underage sex with a eight victims when they were aged between 13 and 15, and Norwich Crown Court yesterday heard he met some of them at roller skating rinks.

Lindsay Cox, prosecuting, told how Jackson was banned from a venue in Norwich because of concerns so he then went to another roller skating centre, in Colchester, where he went on to meet up with other victims.

Jackson, of Kennedy Close, Dereham, was convicted by a jury at Norwich Crown Court of seven charges of sexual activity with two girls under 16 and admitted having sex with six other girls who were all under 16.

Jailing him and banning him in future from visiting any roller skating rink in the country, Recorder Guy Ayers said: 'You targeted and preyed on underage girls and you went to venues where you knew there would be underage girls and specifically targeted them.'

He said there was no doubt that he used a great deal of influence over the girls and co-erced them into having sex despite knowing some of them were just 13.

'Your behaviour was such you were excluded from one roller skating rink because of concerns.'

He added: 'You then took yourself off to another rink so as to carry on your behaviour.'

He said that Jackson had ignored any warnings about associating with young girls and had shown an 'arrogant' disregard.

'The sentence I pass must be a long one to deter others and punish you for a long running campaign of preying on young girls .'

He also made Jackson subject to a sexual offences prevention order under which he is banned from every roller skating rink in the country and also banned him from having unsupervised contact with grils under 16. Recorder Ayers also banned Jackson from working with children.

Ross Boroughs, for Jackson, said that he was himself immature.

He said that his behaviour had spiralled out of control but he now accepted that he needed to get help.

'He has become very mature very quickly.'

He said that Jackson had an appointment when he went back to prison to get help with his issues.

'He won't make these gross mistakes again.'

He said that Jackson was full of remorse and regret.

'He will move on from this.'