Jail for Blackley paedophile filmmaker

A paedophile, who filmed his victims, has been jailed for almost 13 years.

Francis Steenfeld, 68, from Blackley, Greater Manchester, made tapes of himself abusing children and talking about his fantasies, Bolton Crown Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to eight charges of indecent assault and four charges of indecency with a child, and the making and possession of indecent photographs.

The offences took place in the 1990s when Steenfeld lived in Middleton.

Steenfeld, of Westgate Avenue, Blackley, who was also known as Frank Roberts, was also on trial accused of 13 other sexual offences, including rape, but the jury could not reach a verdict.

Police said Steenfeld would loiter around schools and playgrounds, befriending children and offering them money before grooming them for abuse.

He was arrested in 2007 after a disturbance at his home.

Speaking after the case, Det Insp Meriel Buglass, from Rochdale police's public protection unit said: "Steenfeld is a danger to children.

"There is a good chance the victims involved in this prosecution will not have been the only ones he targeted, but I hope everyone who was affected by his behaviour will now take some comfort in the fact he has been brought to justice for his actions."

Steenfeld was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life and given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from allowing any child under the age of 16 years into his home without there being a suitable adult present.