Judge Felicity Hampel on Tuesday sentenced 73-year-old Robert Claffey to 18 years and four months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 13 years and four months.

Last month Claffey pleaded guilty to one count of buggery, six counts of indecent assault on a male person, 10 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual penetration of a person aged 10-16.

Of the 12 victims, seven lived in Ballarat when they were abused. Others were abused by Claffey while he was a Catholic priest at Warnambool, Portland, Apollo Bay and Ecklin South between 1970 and 1992. 

The former priest pleaded guilty to 19 charges but Victorian County Court Judge Felicty Hampel noted he offered no apology to his victims, nor shown any remorse.

Claffey was a "pedophillic sexual predator" who groomed parents and children by visiting families, establishing trust, and threatening children to keep them quiet, the judge said.

"That you were able to act with impunity for such a period speaks volumes for the power you exerted over your victims and the gross nature of the breach of trust of a priest in respect of the children of the parish," she said.

"The consequences for your victims have been profound and, for many, life-long."

Speaking outside court on Tuesday one of the victims said the sentence was just, fair and tantamount to a death penalty.

"This is a person who subjected the children of western Victoria to unbridled and unbroken rape," he said.

"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."

The victim further said he was disgusted with the actions of the Melbourne and Ballarat dioceses, which he described as a "pedophile relocation program".

One of Claffey's victims had previously been abused by another notorious Catholic priest before he was attacked by Claffey.

Claffey will be 86 when he is eligible for parole.

EARLIER: A FORMER Ballarat diocese priest will spend at least the next 13 years behind bars over a string of historic child sexual abuse charges spanning a 22-year period.

Judge Felicity Hampel on Tuesday sentenced 73-year-old Robert Claffey to 18 years and four months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 13 years and four months.

Last month Claffey pleaded guilty to one count of buggery, six counts of indecent assault on a male person, 10 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual penetration of a person aged 10-16.

Of Claffey’s 12 victims who spoke during his court hearing, seven lived in Ballarat when they were abused.

Others were abused by Claffey while he was a Catholic priest at Warnambool, Portland, Apollo Bay and Ecklin South between 1970 and 1992. 

More to come.