A PAEDOPHILE ex-Marine who sexually assaulted and videoed two little boys he "befriended" in a swimming pool changing room has been jailed for four years.

Neil Campbell - described as a bisexual - targeted the eight and nine-year-old boys using a camera concealed behind a hole cut into his shoulder bag. The prosecution claim he would have sold the film.

Footage of the youngsters, who both told police they had been scared of Campbell, was found after officers were told of a secret cellar access at his Keighley home while he was in custody.

Burnley Crown Court heard Campbell, a former Royal Marine, had previous convictions for sex offences with children and had already been to prison. His barrister described him as a man "desperate to find a cure."

A psychiatrist, however, believes it is "improbable" that treatment would reduce the risk Campbell poses to the public.

Judge Raymond Bennett said Campbell presented a future danger.

He said the defendant had a problem to deal with "every waking moment" told him it was not permitted to molest young children.

The judge added that parents were entitled to think their children would be safe in swimming baths and Campbell had gone about what he did in a "surreptitious and most disagreeable" way.

Campbell, 46, of Main Road, Eastburn, Keighley, admitted three counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child, two charges of indecent assault and making an untrue statement to obtain a passport. The judge ordered he must also serve the unexpired portion of a previous sentence - 18 months - before the four-year term starts.

Prosecutor David Pickup said the eight-year-old boy had met Campbell - calling himself "Dave" - at West Craven pool, Barnoldswick.

Campbell asked his name, when he would next be there and said he would see him next week.

A week later, Campbell indecently assaulted the boy and his friend in the shower.

Both children told police they didn't like what Campbell did to them.

When police went to Campbell's home they found a photo album of children at play in pools and details of what would appear to be a pornographic video business Campbell was apparently trying to set up.

Campbell told officers that in the past he had liked young boys but now preferred older boys of 18 and 19 and liked women as well.

Mr Pickup said Campbell had been in the process of setting up a video business and 18 videos depicting him having homosexual sex with another person were found.

While he was in custody police intercepted a letter Campbell sent to a friend asking him to pick up three video cassettes from his home and not to let anybody see them.

Police learned of a secret cellar access and found film footage of the two boys as well as a little girl at Skipton baths.

Jeffrey Lewis, defending, said it had never been Campbell's intention to include the film of the children in his business. The public interest demanded a prison sentence but Campbell had not used gratuitous violence. Campbell had a problem with his sexuality and very much wanted to modify his behaviour.

Campbell claimed the offences occurred during a three-week period when he was not taking Lithium - an anti-depressant which helped reduce his libido.

He was desperate for a cure and ashamed of his behaviour.

Mr Lewis said Campbell had left the marines after 12 years with an exemplary record and medal for his conduct. When he left in 1979, his sexuality had got the better of him.

After the case, Detective Constable Paul Hanson of the Family Protection Unit said: "We are pleased with the conclusion of this enquiry. Campbell was clearly a great danger to children and we are pleased he will no longer be a danger for quite some time."

After the case, the parents of the eight-year-old victim spoke of their son's ordeal and their upset at the allegation that Campbell may have intended to sell the film of their son. The mother said although the child had been naughtier than usual at school the week after his ordeal, she and her husband had talked through the child's experience with him and he was now recovered and enjoying swimming lessons again.

His friend had taken a while longer to come to terms with what had happened.

The boy's father said he and his wife thought the judge's comments on the case were fair but added: "We thought the sentence might have been longer to protect other children.

"It makes the case very strongly for a register of paedophiles.

"We hope that when Campbell is released he will be under close supervision for the rest of his life."

Both added they wanted to thank the police for their sensitive handling of the case.

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