Dedicated police officers have been praised for nailing a paedophile behind a string of attacks against young boys inside his home.

George Gow, 62, of Bastable Avenue, Barking, lured the vulnerable youths into his home with promises of cigarettes, drink and mobile phone top-ups before subjecting them to sexual assaults.

He began abusing one of his victims when he was aged eight and continued to assault him until the boy was 16.

Gow was sentenced to 11 years in prison at Kingston Crown Court in January after being found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a male under the age of 16, three counts of buggery and of one count of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Sgt Dave Beck, Det Con Jenny Rudd and PCSO Simon Moore were awarded police commendations at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club in Victoria Road, Dagenham, on Wednesday.

Det Chief Insp Phil Howarth praised his colleagues for their protracted investigation, which included surveillance and interviews with victims.