POLICE have urged anyone affected by the case of "evil" paedophile pensioner Christopher Francis to come forward.

They have offered support to the public after horrific details of Francis' vile crimes were released as he was jailed for 22 years.

Detective Sergeant Paul Chessell, of Dorset Police’s Integrated Missing Persons and Child Sexual Exploitation Team, said: “Christopher Francis is a despicable individual who abused his victims in the most vile manner over the course of many years.

"Francis lived in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth between 2001 and 2015. He was convicted by Dorset Police in 2015 and jailed for two years for possessing indecent images of children.

"As a result of this conviction, further offences came to light in the Essex area and he was jailed for 22 years on Friday April 7.

"While there is nothing currently to suggest he committed any further offences when he was living in Bournemouth, I am appealing to anyone who may have been affected by this case to come forward and speak to us."

Francis, 70, of Palmerston Mews in Boscombe was jailed after admitting two counts of rape, eleven counts of indecency with a child, eight counts of indecent assault, and two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard he inflicted a "vile system of cruelty" on four children aged between five and 15, raping them ad making them abuse each other.

Sentencing him, the judge called him a "predatory, grooming, callous and evil paedophile abuser" and added: "If you are to survive your sentence, the police will be looking over your shoulder every step of the way, and I hope this brings some small measure of comfort to your victims and punishment for your callous actions."

Anyone affected has been urged to contact Det Sgt Chessell by calling 101, email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.