A FORMER sweet shop owner who groomed and abused boys between 1965 and 2005 has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Brian Hobbs, 74, admitted eight counts of sexual offences relating to two teenage boys, including buggery, indecency with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

One was abused by the defendant and his late partner John Deighton in the 1970s and 80s, at the sweet shop they ran in Castle Lane. The other was abused by Hobbs alone in the early 2000s.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard Hobbs had previously served one year, three year and nine year prison sentences for offences against boys including gross indecency, indecent assault and buggery committed in the 1960s, 80s and 90s respectively.

Jailing Hobbs for 10 years and eight months, Judge Peter Crabtree OBE said he was a “predatory abuser of young teenage boys”.

“You are 74 years old and you have a quite awful record of sexual offences against teenage boys,” he said.

The court heard Hobbs’ victims had each struggled to form relationships since the abuse took place, had suffered with depression and suicidal thoughts as a consequence of the offences.

Also during his sentencing remarks, Judge Crabtree said: “Sadly the feelings they experienced are all too common among abused children and young teenagers.

“There is only one person responsible for what happened. That is you. Brian Hobbs.”

Speaking in mitigation, Richard Tutt said his client wished to make a public apology to his victims as “an expression of the remorse that he now feels”.

He said Hobbs accepted his “full responsibility” for his behaviour and was “extremely candid and forthcoming” in his police interview.

“Mr Hobbs was himself as a young boy abused and plainly was shaped and affected by this,” he said.

“He doesn’t seek to put that forward as any sort of justification. I propose it serves as an explanation.”

He added: “I remind you that Mr Hobbs has not offended for approximately 10 years.

“The affect of what will inevitably be a long sentence will carry great significance due to his age and his state of health.”

Hobbs entered guilty pleas to three counts of indecency with a child, two counts of buggery and three of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard he was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.