AFTER being convicted of sexually abusing young girls, Sean

McCabe, 38, asked a judge to jail him for life.

McCabe, of Stroud Road, Tuffley, made the surprise plea

yesterday just before he was led down to the cells at

Gloucester Crown Court after the jury's verdicts were

delivered.

The six men and six women found McCabe guilty of 13 of the

14 counts he had denied.

An emotional jury foreman returned a not guilty verdict on

one count in accordance with the directions of Judge Mark

Horton - due to an issue with dates.

The charges on which McCabe was convicted of 13 charges of

indecent assault of girls under 13.

During the trial, the jury heard how McCabe allegedly

sexually abused girls over a number of years.

Prosecutor Anna Vigars told the trial this happened

frequently.

After he was arrested and interviewed, McCabe denied ever

having touched any of the children sexually or inappropriately

at all, the trial heard.

After the verdicts were returned, Judge Horton told the

court there were no previous sexual matters on McCabe's

record.

“I'm ordering a psychiatric report to assess the risk you

may pose to children,” he told McCabe.

Before he was led away, McCabe asked the judge if he might

say “one word”.

“Could you sentence me to life please? Just put that in

mind,” he said.

There was applause from the public gallery as he was led

away and as the jury left the courtroom.

McCabe will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.