A former company director described as a "pillar of the community" was sentenced to five years 11 months for paying for children to be sexually abused.

Simeon Paul Osen, 53, from Chigwell, Essex, paid adults in the Philippines to find children to perform sexual acts and film them so he could watch online via a Skype link, Harrow criminal court heard.

Judge Martyn Barklem said the acts were "despicable" and that any right-minded member of society would react with "complete revulsion" at his behaviour.

"These children were several thousand miles away but were not objects to be used as dolls for your sexual gratification; they were real people," he said.

Police found 41,000 Skype messages on Osen's computer pertaining to conversations in the Philippines over a period of 10 months in 2012.

He asked the multiple victims, all pre-pubescent girls, some as young as 10, to bare parts of their bodies, perform sexual acts on themselves, or have acts performed on them by others in front of a camera.

The court heard how Osen paid over £5,000 to adult contacts in the Philippines.

Defence lawyer Mitchell Cohen said Osen had been "a man of good character" and " a pillar of the community, taking part in the synagogue and charitable acts".

Osen was a significant supporter of Chabad Lubavitch in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

Mr Cohen told the court Osen had written a letter of remorse to the judge.

“He accepts it was a despicable and disgraceful offence,” said Mr Cohen.

Osen, who pleaded guilty to the 13 charges of arranging and facilitating the commission of child sex offences, will be put on the Sexual Offenders Register for life and has been given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The court heard how Osen was investigated and given an eight month suspended sentence in 2013 for sexually abusing a young girl.

Osen was the executive director of the Ronacrete company, where he worked alongside his brother. The court heard how his relationship with his brother has completely broken down since the sex abuse allegations came to light.

“He had a very close immediate family, he has lost all that. A relationship with his brother has been lost. They worked together and now they do not talk. He accepts all of that is entirely his fault,” said Mr Cohen.

“Much of your extended family turned its back on you ,which can come as no surprise no matter how genuine your remorse,” said Judge Barklem.

According to Mr Cohen, entries have been posted about Osen on paedophile and antisemitic websites.