An Echuca BMX rider will spend at least 10 years behind bars, after admitting to sexually abusing 22 young girls over a nine year period.

Fabian Roy Meharry, 28, pleaded guilty to 62 child abuse charges which included rape, grooming and child pornography.

His victims ranged in age from just 11 years old to 17.

Between 2006 and 2015 Meharry coerced his victims into sending explicit images, before using the images to blackmail the girls in to performing sexual acts which he recorded online.

In handing down the sentence County Court judge Liz Gaynor described Meharry’s demands as callous, overbearing and delivered in a bullying manner.

Meharry was today sentenced to 12 years in jail with a minimum of 10 years.

Written by Ashleigh Gardner