Oz man, who 'felt a thrill' while sexually abusing friend's children, jailed

A man in Australia, who confessed he "felt a thrill" while sexually abusing his friend's children for 10-years, has been jailed for only six years.

Neale Martin Ross, 48, had molested four girls, including one who was aged four years, on numerous occasions including during visits they made to his home in Melbourne's east.

At the Victorian County Court, Ross, who himself is a father of two, pleaded guilty to six counts of sexually penetrating a child under 16 and 15 counts of committing an indecent act with a child under 16.

He told police he "felt a thrill" when he abused the children, who were aged between four and 15 years, and had a "fatal attraction" to them.

Judge Christopher O'Neill said such offending was "abhorrent" and led to long-term damage of the children and their families.

He said the victim impact statements made "chilling reading" and highlighted the emotional damage caused.

"It is a serious aggravating feature that the victims were all children and aged between four and 15," News.com.au quoted O'Neill as saying.

He ordered Ross to serve a non-parole period of four years.

Ross, who will be a registered sex offender for life, has already spent 317 days in custody.