October 2000 LIFE FOR FIEND WHO TRIED TO RAPE A TOT; Monster preyed on little girls AN evil paedophile who filmed and photographed himself as he sexually abused little girls was jailed for life yesterday. In one 20-minute video, twisted Thomas Paton, 46, videod himself trying to rape an 18-month-old toddler. Another girl aged between two or three – who Paton used to babysit for when she was a one-year-old – also appeared in his sick video stash. Caernarfon crown court heard how police seized 26 video tapes and two photo albums when they raided his house in Anglesey, north Wales. Jailing him, judge Mr Justice Poole told Paton: “You pose a serious danger to the public and in particular very young girls.” Paton preyed on seven young girls, the oldest of which were aged just 13 or 14. He admitted attempted rape, nine indecent assaults, seven offences of taking indecent photographs of children, and one of possessing indecent photographs. He denied a rape charge, a second attempted rape, and two of administering a stupefying or overpowering substance. The prosecution offered no evidence on the charges. Paton was arrested at a Manchester hotel two weeks after the June raid on his home. He told police he was fascinated by the innocence of children and had been attracted to them from a young age. Elfyn Llwyd, defending, said Paton had been sexually abused repeatedly when he was young. He said: “There’s no excuse for what he has been doing.” But, he added, abuse in his early life may have “given rise to this errant and inexcusable behaviour.” He added: “He’s in a strange sort of way pleased that these matters have come out. “He has for some time realised that he does have a problem of the most anti-social and serious nature.” Paton was jailed for life for the attempted rape. He was given sentences totalling eight years for the other charges and must register as a sex offender for life. Many of the offences took place in the Manchester area. He also had a 1990 conviction for indecent assault and taking indecent photographs.The judge said he hoped Paton would get help while in jail.