MUMS of a paedophile’s victims want children to be given sex education from a younger age to give them better protection from abuse.

The call follows the jailing of Raymond Norris, 44, who was sentenced to 11 years after he was found guilty of 10 sexual offences against youngsters.

Norris, of no fixed address, targeted three families in Banbury over four years, and was only caught after one of his victims had a sex education lesson at school.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, realised Norris was assaulting her and alerted a teacher.

Norris abused four children between May 2004 and August 2008. Two of the children’s mothers insist that had that lesson not taken place, Norris could still be offending.

One mum, who cannot be identified to protect her daughter, said: “We would never have known about it, and it could have gone on for God knows how long.”

She believed that by educating children at a younger age about sex, teachers could help other youngsters who were being abused.

At the moment, sex education is taught to youngsters in Oxfordshire primary schools from year six – children aged 10 and 11.

The victim’s mother said her daughter was still coming to terms with what happened, and that the incident had affected the whole family.

She said: “When I found out about this, all I did was blame myself.

“I thought I wasn’t a very good mum, that I hadn’t been there for my child, and hadn’t protected her.

“Paedophiles like Norris groom people when they are only after the children.

“It’s disgusting and vile.”

Another mother, whose daughter, was abused by Norris, said her child suffered nightmares, and bed wetting, and was now wary of men. Her attitude towards men has changed – she doesn’t trust them.

She added: “By the age of nine children should start sex education.”

Jurors at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday found Norris guilty of two counts of a serious sexual assault and eight counts of sexual assault on children aged between five and 10.

Det Con Mark Jenkins, from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Norris’s offences were despicable and saw him preying on young children who, didn’t realise what was happening to them was wrong.

“I would like to recognise the bravery of the children who came forward to testify against Norris.”

banbury@oxfordmail.co.uk