A former judge in British Columbia who pleaded guilty to charges involving sexual offences against on girls under 18 has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

David Ramsay admitted to five charges, including sexual assault causing bodily harm, and obtaining sexual services from someone under age 18.

All of the crimes took place while Ramsay, 61, was a judge in Prince George in the mid-1990s.

Ramsay's victims were mostly aboriginal prostitutes who ranged in age from 12 to 16 at the time of the assaults. Many in the aboriginal community have been outraged that Ramsay was escaped prosecution for so long.

The sentence was two years longer than the five years the Crown had been asking for.

Ramsay's lawyer had asked for a four-year jail term, asking the sentencing judge to consider that Ramsay admitted to his offences and immediately resigned from office.

Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm noted that Ramsay "has already paid a price for his crime" before handing down seven years. 

"He lost his position as a respected judge, has the shame from his former colleagues and I fully expect his time in custody to be an exceptionally heavy burden," he said.

During the hearing Tuesday, Ramsay stood up to apologize to each of his victims individually. He said he couldn't explain his "disgraceful conduct."

"I'm at a loss to explain to you, the complainants and my family, how I could work so hard in all other aspects of my life, yet fail by engaging in such disgraceful conduct," Ramsay said.

The victims were seated in the front row of the courtroom Tuesday and sobbed as he spoke.

"I cannot undo that which has been done, nor take away the pain or the indignity I've contributed to their lives."

"I need treatment," Ramsay added. "I look forward to receiving it so that I never engage in such harmful and destructive conduct again."

Originally charged with 10 counts, many had expected Ramsay to mount a long and difficult defence at his trial last month. But when it got underway, the former judge surprised observers by admitting to five of the charges against him.

A plea bargain was reached, under which the Crown prosecutor agreed to drop the remaining charges.

Ramsay pleaded guilty to one count of breach of trust relating to the duties of his office. That charge stems from an RCMP investigation that found that Ramsay presided over cases involving three of his victims before and after their criminal encounters.

He had full access to their files and knew how young they were.

When Ramsay arrived for Tuesday's hearing, he was met by the jeers of about 50 protesters who demanded the province do more to uncover other possible crimes.

Concerned that Ramsay abused judicial authority while committing his crimes, many have called for a public inquiry into his past conduct on and off the bench.

B.C. Attorney General Geoff Plant says a review of Ramsay's past rulings is under consideration, but it's too early to launch a full-scale review.

An investigation was first launched in 1999, when police received a complaint about the former judge. Unable to find a victim willing to testify against him, the case stalled for close to three years.

In May 2002, a teenage mother, angry that Ramsay was hearing her son's custody case, renewed the accusations.

During Tuesday's hearing, Ramsay's lawyer revealed his client recently tried to kill himself by drinking a cocktail of antifreeze and orange juice. He spent 12 days in hospital.

"His remorse has been overwhelming," lawyer Leonard Doust said. "It resulted in a suicide attempt at the earliest possibility, which in my submission is the ultimate expression of remorse."