A 43-year-old has been given a life sentence for sexually abusing children and women.

Mark Quinn, of Hamfield, Wantage, was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court after admitting eight counts of indecent assault on children, one of attempting to rape a child, three of raping women and one of actual bodily harm against an adult.

Last night, detectives labelled it one of the most complicated and disturbing cases of abuse after revealing Quinn had sought out and befriended vulnerable victims.

The victims cannot be named for legal reasons. Quinn received a life sentence for attempted rape of a child, another life sentence for raping a woman, 14 years for another rape of a woman and six years for each count of child abuse. All the sentences are to run concurrently.

He must serve seven years before he can be considered for parole.

Quinn was arrested on Thursday, November 3, 2005, and charged two days later, following an inquiry involving Thames Valley Police's Child Abuse Investigation Unit and Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire county councils. Det Sgt Richard Woodley, who led the investigation, said: "Quinn is responsible for a number of sickening offences across Aylesbury Vale, Oxfordshire and parts of North Wales.

"He has sought out and befriended both young and vulnerable children in order to commit his crimes.

"This has been one of the most complex and disturbing child abuse and rape cases in recent years, particularly as his partner has also pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual abuse against a child. Public safety has been the overriding priority in this case and Quinn's sentence demonstrates that the police and partner agencies will do everything in their power to bring dangerous sex offenders to justice."

Quinn's partner, Margaret Suthers, 43, from Lancashire, had previously admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child.

She is to be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday.