A COUNTY Court judge broke down yesterday after sentencing sexual predator Ricky “Dave” McLennan to 15 years and four months’ jail for a series of sex offences against young women.

Judge Irene Lawson was choked with tears when she told each of McLennan’s female victims how brave they had been. “The thing I will take away from it is the courage of the girls,” she said.

“You all strike me as very remarkable girls.”

Over a six-week trial, which included three separate indictments and two juries, McLennan was found guilty of 19 counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16, two counts of attempted sexual penetration of a child under 16, four counts of committing an indecent act with a child under 16, one count of indecent assault and three child pornography charges.

Ricky McLennan is taken away after being sentenced yesterday.

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The charges related to four victims, the youngest 11 at the time.

The incidents stretched back to 2005 when McLennan groomed two sisters – aged 13 and 15 – for a sexual relationship.

McLennan, owner of Epsom business Cowboy World now known as Wrangler Shop, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He pleaded guilty to the final indecent assault charge after two separate juries found him guilty of 29 offences spanning the first two indictments.

Ms Lawson said apart from that late plea there was nothing she could take into account to lessen McLennan’s sentence.

“A clear message needs to be sent by this court that offences against children in this matter will be handled with the utmost severity,” she said.

McLennan was sentenced to 15 years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of 12 years.

He was sentenced as a serious sex offender and will be placed on the sex offender register for life.

Ricky McLennan leaves court on Monday.

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