Vic pedophile priest likely to die in jail

A remorseless Victorian pedophile priest who used position within the Catholic Church to sexually abuse children is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Predator Robert Patrick Claffey, 73, has been jailed for more than 18 years for abusing 12 Victorian children between 1969 and 1992.

Victims drew parallels between Claffey and serial pedophile Gerald Francis Ridsdale, who abused more than 50 victims - one of whom was also attacked by Claffey.

The 19 charges Claffey admitted constitute what Victorian County Court Judge Felicty Hampel described in sentencing as a shameful and protracted abuse of his authority as a priest.

One of his victims said the sentence for the "unbridled and unbroken rape" of the children of western Victoria was just, fair and tantamount to a death penalty.

"Bob Claffey has taken a fair portion of everyone's lives and he deserves to have a fair portion of his life taken from him," Frank Hampster said outside court.

Another of his victims said she suspected there were others out there.

Claffey's total sentence is 18 years and four months, of which he must serve 13 years and four months.