The 46-year-old was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after admitting 26 sex offences against his victims.

He must serve an extended four-year licence period when he is released from prison.

The defendant, of Stone Road, Trent Vale, committed the offences in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, North Wales, South Wales, Worcestershire and Yorkshire over a five-year period.

He has admitted:

• Fifteen counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity;

• Three counts of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity;

• One charge of paying for the sexual services of a child;

• One charge of causing a child to watch an image of sexual activity;

• Five counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child;

• One count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child.

The court heard how Hopkins used social media and online chat websites to engage in online conversations with seven victims who were all under the age of 16.

He incited the victims – boys aged between 13 and 15 – to engage in sexual conversations and to send indecent images.

On 10 occasions, Hopkins met up with five individual boys and engaged in sexual activity.

On one occasion, he gave one of the boys money. 

Following his arrest in July last year, his mobile phone was seized.

This contained indecent images of children and there was evidence to show that he had engaged in sexual activity with children.

The court heard the defendant was arrested last July.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order has been imposed on him indefinitely, and he was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.