A man has been sentenced for a series of historical sex offences committed against boys in East Lancashire.

Matthew Linfield, 30, appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced for 10 charges over offences that happened in Burnley and Colne.

Prosecutor Simon Blakebrough said the earliest dates Linfield pleaded guilty to were in 2007 and stretched into 2012, meaning the abuse spanned the best part of five years.

The matter was first reported to the police when a care coordinator to one of the boys discovered a text message sent by the defendant offering money for sexual favours.

Police then contacted the care coordinator and made her aware of further allegations against the defendant.

In evidence read to the court by Mr Blakebrough, one of the victims recalled a time where Linfield put his hands down the victim’s trousers and touched him sexually.

Another of the victims was repeatedly offered money by Linfield to perform sexual favours on him and Linfield would also touch him sexually too.

Mr Blakebrough read victim impact statements from the victims to the court.

One of them said: “The abuse I suffered has had a massive impact on my life. The psychological trauma has stayed with me and I think it always will.

“As a child I was embarrassed but, as an adult, I know not to be embarrassed. What happened to me wasn’t my fault.

“Matthew ruined my childhood.”

The other statement said: “The impact of the abuse Matthew committed against me is immense.

“Matthew groomed me with the promise of money and football stickers and cards. I was innocent. I didn’t really know anything about what sex was.

“When I realised what was going on I didn’t have the power to stop him.

“He took advantage of me. He shouldn’t have taken advantage of me and he should feel ashamed. He ruined my life.”

Oliver Saddington, representing Linfield in court, said his client had been very realistic in the sense that only a custodial sentence would suffice given the facts of the case.

He added Linfield is an “intelligent, articulate, and conscientious young man” in spite of the “difficulties he experienced coming to terms with his own sexuality.”

Mr Saddington finished his remarks by saying “in view of his sincere remorse, I ask the court to impose the shortest sentence it can.”

Linfield, now of Fawcett Crescent, Reading, Berkshire, has no previous convictions.

Passing sentence, Judge Guy Mathieson said: “I’ve read a lot about you in the pre-sentence report and the references from family, colleagues, and friends all speak very highly of you and the man you have become. You are clearly an intelligent, educated, and hard-working young man.

“The problem is this case is not just about you. A life well-lived since the university days cannot excuse or undo the harm.

“At the time you were dealing with the complications of navigating your own sexuality. At the time as you are struggling, it was hard for you to be open so it was something to be experienced, discovered, in secret."

He said: “The damage done to these boys is detailed in their victim personal statements and makes for highly emotional reading. Their bravery in describing how they suffered and continue to suffer is hard to hear.

“I make it plain that whatever their feelings of guilt and responsibility, none of them should actually feel guilty or bear any responsibility for what you did. That rests entirely on you.

“Those boys may never recover from the mental damage done to them.”

Linfield pleaded guilty to 10 counts on the indictment. A further 10 counts were ordered to lie on file.

He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.