A PAEDOPHILE who sexually assaulted two boys he befriended has been jailed for four years. Norman Shepherd, 56, met the teenage boys while on fishing trips to Morecambe and earned the trust of their parents. But Preston Crown Court heard that he carried out a number of sex assaults against them, some of them committed at the home of one of the boys.

At the time of the offences, he was on bail awaiting trial on sex charges against an eight year old boy.

Shepherd, formerly of Staston, near Keighley, pleased guilty to five offences of indecent assault.

Judge Ronald Livesay QC, passed concurrent four year sentences on all charges and told Shepherd: "The sentence this court imposes must reflect public horror and revulsion of such offences.

"It must also deter others who may be similarly inclined."

Shepherd was also ordered to register his name with the police upon his release under the Sexual Offenders Act. Richard Haworth, prosecuting, said the offences were committed last summer.

Shepherd met one boy on a fishing trip and through him, was introduced to the other boy. He had served a 15 month sentence for molesting a young boy and was on bail facing trial at Bradford Crown Court.

The boys complained about Shepherd's behaviour but when interviewed, he claimed his friendship was innocent.

John Topham, defending, said Shepherd had a sexual inclination towards young boys and accepted he needed therapy. Police arrested Shepherd in March, initially for breaching bail and while he was in custody, the boys made the allegations about him.

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