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The Perth man jailed for 12 years and nine months on Tuesday for having sex with a 12-year-old girl pimped out by her own father said he felt "lonely" when he first started abusing the girl in 2013.
'Evil 8' paedophile Ryan Clegg was sentenced in the Perth District Court after pleading guilty to 15 charges, including sexually penetrating the girl four times and indecently dealing with and photographing her on a number of occasions over a six month period.
On the four occasions Clegg had sex with the girl, who was aged 11 or 12 at the time, her father was in the room watching.
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The court heard the girl tried to push Clegg away on two occasions, once at Clegg's North Fremantle house, and another time at the father's Butler home, but told detectives she "wasn't strong enough".
Clegg also took photographs of the girl in lingerie and shared the photos and other child pornography images online.
His lawyer Ian Hope argued Clegg suffered deep remorse and shame over his actions, but prosecution lawyer Justin Whalley questioned if that were the case, why he had "boasted" about his encounters with the girl online to others.
Clegg had told friends the girl "grizzles but sometimes I think she does like it, I am gentle".
He also said "I fucked her while her dad watched and then he had his turn".
Mr Whalley retorted Clegg's comments saying "the reality is no child likes it...[and] every right-minded thinking member of the community condemns it."
District Court Judge Bruce Goetze, during his sentencing, told Clegg - who bowed his head for most of the hearing - he had showed no regard for the girl over the six months he abused her.
He said Clegg was aware of the girl's age, saying she was clearly "pre-pubescent" and "not a willing party" to the actions against her.
"You were aware she was being peddled by her father," Judge Goetze said.
"This sexual offending is a very serious matter... it causes severe emotional trauma... and it is made worse that this happened to someone so young."
Judge Goetze also referred to seven pages of online transcript between Clegg and other people that showed his "complete disregard" for the girl.
"Your internet logs indicate no remorse... but remorse is something that can develop overtime," he said.
"Your conduct over six months was persistent and prolonged."
A psychiatrist in a report to the court determined Clegg was at a low risk of reoffending and had been attending counselling.
He has been in custody since August 15, after horrified community members in North Fremantle learnt he was living "just a few doors down" from a child care centre and less than 100 metres from a primary school while on bail awaiting his sentencing.
The Stirling Highway house appears to be the same house where Clegg had sex with the girl on one occasion.
In the wake of the public outrage over his bail, the state government introduced tougher laws which would prevent serious convicted sex offenders being granted bail while awaiting sentencing.
Clegg joins the victim's father and four others already jailed for their role in what has been described as WA's worst paedophile ring.
The girl's father, who cannot be identified to protect her, is appealing his 22-year sentence.
Former pastor David Volmer was jailed for 10 years, photographer Simon Clarke was imprisoned for three years, Nicholas Beer jailed for seven years and Troy Milbourne sentenced to five years behind bars.
Alfred Impicciatore has pleaded not guilty to allegations he sexually penetrated the child on a number of occasions and possessed child exploitation material.
His trial is scheduled for May.
Clegg, who was being held in the protective unit at prison before his sentencing, will be eligible for parole.
Status of the accused 'Evil 8':
VICTIM'S FATHER
Raped and pimped the girl but cannot be named to protect her identity, was sentenced in June last year to 22-and-a-half years. Earliest release date is October 2035. He's appealing, arguing the term is manifestly excessive.
DAWID VOLMER
Former pastor and father-of-two was sentenced in November 2015 to 10-and-a-half years after admitting he stupefied the blindfolded girl with an inhalant and raped her in front of her father. Eligible for parole after eight- and-a-half years
NICHOLAS ADAM BEER
Admitted sexually abusing the girl alongside her father while she was shackled to a bed and forced to wear bondage gear. Sentenced in September last year to seven years, eligible for parole after five years
TROY PHILLIP MILBOURNE
Had a shower with the girl and then had sex with her on a bed. He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including sexual penetration of a child, and was sentenced in November last year to five years and three months. Parole eligibility after three years and three months
BENJAMIN SIMON CLARKE
Was sentenced in June last year to three years after pleading guilty to 12 charges, including indecently recording and dealing with a child, admitting he photographed the girl wearing lingerie and nude at an abandoned mine site. Eligible for parole after 18 months
Another man implicated in the investigation was never charged with offences related to the girl but was jailed for using an online chat forum to engage in sexual conversations and exchange nude photographs of other children
ALFRED JOHN IMPICCIATORE
Has pleaded not guilty to allegations he sexually penetrated the child on a number of occasions and possessed exploitation material
With AAP