OXFORD’S most notorious paedophile claimed even more victims than at first thought and police have now appealed for them to come forward.

It has also been revealed that pervert David Cullen groomed and bribed his young victims using an £80,000 payout for his own child sex abuse ordeal at the hands of Catholic priests in his native Ireland.

A detective last night revealed details of how Cullen, formerly of Blackbird Leys, was brought to justice for 28 sex crimes.

Former football referee Cullen got 140,000 euros (at the time, worth £80,000), for sexual abuse he suffered and used it to help commit crimes that included rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming and taking and distributing indecent images.

But Detective Constable David Porter said Cullen’s crimes were probably the “tip of the iceberg” and that other victims had remained silent.

Father-of-two Cullen, 50, first convicted of child sex crimes in 1996, showered families with gifts in exchange for access to their children, taking them to theme parks and buying them treats, such as clothes and trainers.

He even bought a Blackbird Leys couple a washing machine and alcohol, while carrying out abuse on their child.

Dc Porter, of Cowley’s child abuse investigation unit, said: “He used that money to try to bribe defence witnesses, as well as groom both children and parents.”

He even spent £30,000 from his prison cell in 2008 – where he was serving time for the 2006 offences – to get victims to make statements in his defence, Dc Porter said.

“He was also in contact with children through football and he has had access to children throughout his life,” added Dc Porter.

“Bearing in mind his offending, there could be more potential victims. The chances are, if he had contact with children and they came from vulnerable backgrounds, he is such a predatory paedophile, I suspect he would have offended.

“With Cullen, you could spend a career looking into what he has done. This is probably the tip of the iceberg. He could go anywhere and, within a few weeks, have gained parents’ trust and be allowed to take their children out.

“He still tries to manipulate everyone, including the system.”

Cullen was jailed for life in November 2008 after admitting abusing five young boys, including four from Oxfordshire. He was ordered to serve at least 10 years.

He raped one 10-year-old after being given bail while facing four charges of sexually assaulting a child.

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk

  • Dc Porter said any reports of child abuse would be investigated. The force can be contacted on 08458 505505.