'McLeod's Daughters' star Aaron Jeffery reveals childhood abuse in paedophile ring

Aaron Jeffery has opened up about his traumatic childhood, claiming he was a victim of a "paedophile ring".

In an interview published in Who magazine on Thursday, the 48-year-old said he had a "nervous breakdown" in his mid-twenties -- brought on by his experiences as a youth.

"I had a hard part of my childhood that came back to me," Jeffery said. "I was in a paedophile ring for a couple of years – and I had to deal with that."

The Underbelly Files: Chopper star has previously spoken about being a victim of sexual abuse.

"I had some tough issues as an angry young kid," he told The Advertiser in 2006. "I was in with a very rough crowd."

Aaron Jeffery. Image: Getty

He said his "nervous breakdown" occurred in 1998 and led to him living in a caravan park as a young man.

At the time, the actor told The Advertiser that sexual assault needs to be openly discussed, rather than swept under the rug.

"Sexual abuse is quite prevalent in society and I think it needs to be talked about," he said. "If someone out there gains some inspiration from me experiencing that, then achieving a level of fulfilment in life, I think that's great.

The former McLeod's Daughters star is married to actress Zoe Naylor, 40, with whom he shares two children: Sophia, 5, and Beau, 1.

He also has a 14-year-old daughter named Ella-Blu from his previous marriage to socialite Melinda Medich.