THE father of a girl sexually abused by children's magician David Payne has slammed the rapist's 12 year jail sentence, saying it is not enough.

Choking back tears, the dad said Payne could be free after just six years if he behaves well in prison.

"It is a disgrace," he said. "The judge let the girls down badly. They should be protected from the likes of him. Some of them could be just 12 years old when he gets out."

Swindon Crown Court had earlier been told that father-of-two Payne, 56, of The Street, Burton, near Chippenham, raped one girl when she was eight and abused five others who were as young as four after using his charms as an entertainer to befriend the children and their families.

Payne, a trusted member of the community who helped out at a local primary school, preyed on many of his victims while baby-sitting.

During a three-day trial for rape and two counts of indecent assault, one of Payne's victims said she was seven when he started abusing her. He told her it was their secret, and she did not tell anyone until after he raped her.

She told the jury: "I started saying no, I didn't like it, it was horrible. He was telling me to keep all this a secret but I told my mummy because I trust her."

Payne, who is an engineer by trade, stayed at home and acted as a househusband while his wife, Sheena, went out to work as a midwife.

After a jury took just two hours to find Payne guilty of all the charges, they learned that he had also admitted to a further 15 counts of indecent assault and indecency with a total of six youngsters.

Judge John McNaught said he had received a letter from Payne expressing his shame and remorse. Passing sentence on Tuesday, the judge said: "You have showed yourself to be a danger to young girls and the sentence must reflect that."

He jailed him for nine years for the rape with an additional three years in total for the other offences, making a total of 12 years.

Afterwards a victim's father attacked the sentence as too lenient. "My daughter is traumatised. She has become very quiet since he did this to her," he said.

He said it felt as though the children were on trial during the hearing. He said: "Some of the questions they were asked shouldn't be allowed. My daughter came out crying."