The words, from a hand-written note by a Derby man, described in court as Victim M of “predatory paedophile” Cullen were read to a silent courtroom at Derby Crown Court.

Penned by a man now aged 58, but who was abused in Mackworth for six years between the ages of eight and 14, the full impact of the statement did not stop there.

“I have never married or had children,” it continued.

“Because of what you did to me I felt I was damaged goods, worthless as a potential father and husband. I was eight years old and you took my innocence away from me. One of the proudest things I have done in my life is to help bring you to justice.

“You may not rot in hell but you will rot in prison.”

After abusing another victim, Cullen held his hand on the child’s head and said ‘God will forgive you’.

His seven victims – four in Mackworth, two in Buxton and one in Nottingham – had been subjected to years of horrific sexual abuse so graphic they cannot be published.

Cullen, now 85, had evaded capture after he skipped bail in 1991 for a similar sexual offence, going on the run to Tenerife for 22 years.

Bravely, victims started to come forward and he was tracked down to the holidaysisland and extradited last year.

But yesterday he was told he would “most probably spend the remainder of his life” locked up.

Cullen admitted abusing five boys and two girls over a 34-year period.

None of them can be identified for legal reasons.

The court heard the specific details of each crime and the impact they had on the victims.

A second Derby victim, abused while he was an altar boy at Christ the King, in Mackworth, where Cullen was parish priest, went on to become a police officer.

The man, who is now 65, was abused by the priest from the age of seven to 14.

He said: “When I was 14 I told my parents what Father Cullen had done to me but my mother was in denial.

“My relationship with my parents never healed and I had a nervous breakdown when I was 14.

“I feel my education was held back and in adulthood I found it difficult to form relationships.

“Through my life I battled with anxiety and took medication for more than 10 years.

“It became clear to me the Roman Catholic Church turned a blind eye to the activity.”

The hearing was told that Cullen was ordained at the age of 24 and came to work at Christ the King in the late 1950s.

A third Derby man, referred to as Victim S, is another former altar boy who was abused when he was aged 10.

Sarah Knight, prosecuting, said after he was abused he reported it to his parents.

Miss Knight said: “The defendant turned up at their Mackworth home knowing something must have been afoot. The boy saw him outside his home and was petrified.

“He hid behind his father’s legs who told him (Cullen) in no uncertain terms to go away.

“The family then had a visit from the Bishop of Nottingham, saying Father Cullen had been sent to Ireland to convalesce.

“The victim then had a chance meeting with the defendant in 1973 at the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.

“The victim said to Father Cullen ‘you’re a lucky man’ and the defendant smirked before driving away.”

In his statement that was read out in court, the same victim said: “I can forgive him but I can’t forget.”

And the court was told how the fourth Derby victim, now aged 52, attended Christ the King from the age of six and was abused by Cullen for the next six years.

Miss Knight said : “After one occasion (of sexual abuse) the defendant held his hand on the victim’s head and, preaching, said ‘God will forgive you’.

“By that time it was plain the defendant was a seasonal abuser who had perfected his method.”

In that victim’s statement, he said: “His behaviour towards me was despicable and cowardly. He used me to satisfy his own lust.”

After Cullen left Mackworth, he moved to Buxton where the court heard how his abuse continued against two girls, who were aged between six and 13.

And his final victim was a boy, described as Victim H in court, who stayed with Cullen in Nottingham when he was a priest there in the early 1990s.

The court was told how the boy stayed with Cullen while his mother and stepfather went on holiday. While they were away, Cullen abused the boy, who was 11 or 12.

In total, Cullen pleaded guilty to 21 counts of sexual abuse, including attempted rape against of the Derby boys.

Alwyn Jones, for the former priest, said his client had pleaded guilty on the day of trial, which meant his victims would not have to face up to the ordeal of giving evidence in court.”

Father Andrew Cole, spokesman for the Diocese of Nottingham, said: “We are pleased that Cullen has been given a custodial sentence which reflects the gravity of his offences and the scandal which they have caused.

“We realise that no sentence, however long, can fully make up for the lasting damage which his victims have suffered, but we hope that his sentence will contribute towards their healing.

“We are truly sorry for the wrong that has been done by Cullen to his victims and their families; their trust was betrayed and their dignity violated. We will do whatever we can to support Cullen’s victims and all who have been affected by this tragedy.

“The abuse of children is evil and cannot be tolerated.

“The Catholic Church takes the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults extremely seriously, and it is our hope and expectation that no child or vulnerable adult should ever suffer at the hands of others.”

Janine Smith, deputy chief crown prosecutor at the CPS East Midlands, said: “As a Catholic priest, Francis Cullen was a trusted member of his community and held in high regard by his parishioners.

“Yet right from the very start of his ministry, he was abusing children – boys and girls – in his pastoral care.

“This was a betrayal of trust that devastated the lives of his victims, affecting many of them well into their adult years.

“Bringing Francis Cullen to justice has been a complex matter, with separate approaches to overseas jurisdictions as the case progressed.

“His guilty pleas a week before the trial meant that his crimes can be dealt with without his victims having to go through the ordeal of describing what happened to them in court. Perpetrators of these offences have nowhere to hide.”

DC Matt Goodwin, who investigated most of the allegations of sexual abuse against Cullen, said: “The sentence goes some way to providing a degree of closure for the victims. Any sentence passed would never truly reflect the damage that has been caused to his young and vulnerable victims.

“It is their strength of character and positive attitude which has ultimately enabled Derbyshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service to bring about the successful prosecution of Francis Cullen.”