A WA man who told a court “homosexuality is against God’s law” has been sentenced to five years’ jail for molesting seven men, with the judge telling him he had “traumatised” the victims.

Morris Leonard Deale, 38, was found guilty of indecent assault against the men, who were aged as young as 17, following a three-week trial in the District Court last month.

The offences happened between 2012 and 2019.

In most cases, the men were asleep after drinking and woke up to find Deale touching their genitals.

During the trial, Deale denied any wrongdoing and argued that he “honestly and reasonably” believed he had touched the men with their consent.

In one case, Deale told the victim he loved him and put his hand beneath his underwear.

Judge Laura Christian said in that instance, the then-33-year-old Deale had persisted despite “unambiguous resistance” from the 22-year-old sleeping in his guest room.

In a sentencing hearing in the District Court this week, Judge Christian told the court Deale’s actions had taken an emotional toll on the victims who had made impact statements to the court.

“Unsurprisingly, each of them has been traumatised by your offending,” she said.

“[One of the victims] suffers significant ongoing psychological effects.

The judge accepted a submission from Deale’s lawyer that he was likely at low risk of reoffending because he had stopped drinking and was focusing on his family.

Deale has been sentenced to five years in jail and will be eligible for parole after three years.