A former Raymond school teacher has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars for sexual assault and child pornography charges, a Lethbridge judge has found.

Jamey Kristian, 37, admitted to sexually assaulting three young boys between the ages of  nine and 10 over a six year period.

The court heard that the crimes against one of the nine-year-old victims were particularly heinous as he was repeatedly raped over a long period of time.

That same victim requested that the judge lift a publication ban on his identity, but was denied.

He also pleaded guilty to taking pictures of his victims and possessing a large quantity of other photos and videos of naked children recorded inside swimming pool change rooms in Lethbridge.

During the investigation, police seized thousands of pictures and videos from electronic devices found in Kristian’s home when he was arrested in January 2014.

A judge handed down a sentence of 12 years on Thursday morning and also ordered that he register as a sex offender for life.

Kristian has also been banned from using the Internet for the next 20 years.

The Crown had requested a 15-year sentence while the defence was looking for eight to 10 years in jail.