A FORMER British soldier has been jailed for three years for indecently assaulting two boys more than 20 years ago.

Jeffrey Price, 57, was working as a civilian instructor for the Bournemouth Sea Cadets when he committed the offences between 1991 and 1992.

On Thursday Bournemouth Crown Court heard Price secured himself a job with the sea cadets - despite being convicted of indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 16 in 1986.

The court heard how Price had “abused his position of trust” when he indecently assaulted two boys under the age of 16 during two separate camping trips he had arranged for the sea cadets.

One of the incidents took place at St Catherine’s Hill in Christchurch.

The court heard how Price had lured a sea cadet on a group camping trip which turned out to be just for the two of them.

Simon Jones, prosecuting, said: “On the way Price stopped at an off licence to purchase alcohol which he then gave to the teenager.

“The victim was sick and that is when Price indecently assaulted him.”

The second incident took place on a group camping trip to Swanage and involved a younger sea cadet.

Once again Price plied the victim with alcohol. Mr Jones said: “The victim remembers waking up to discover his sleeping bag was being undone. Price then indecently assaulted the boy who describes not being able to do anything to stop it because of the alcohol.” The victim died in January this year.

The court heard that Price committed 23 sexual offences between 1986 and 2001 and has already spent 12 years in prison.

In 1993 Price was sentenced to three years at Lincoln Crown Court for six offences of indecently assaulting young males under the age of 16 - two of which were also Bournemouth sea cadets.

Then in 2001 Price was sentenced to six years at Sheffield Crown Court for sexually assaulting three males aged seven, eight, and 11.

Anne Brown, defending, said Price is a very different man to the one he was when these offences took place.

"He had a drinking problem but has now been teetotal for 15 years and has dealt with the issues that have caused him to offend in the past," she added.

"The defendant was also sexually abused as a child and was raped in Bournemouth when he was 17. He was then the subject of sexual abuse when he was in the military."

The court also heard that Price had served in Northern Ireland in the late 70s working covertly at the height of the troubles which left him with PTSD.

When handing down his sentence Judge Peter Johnson said both incidents showed a "gross abuse of trust".

"You deliberately plied these boys with alcohol so you could do with them as you wish.

"It's hoped there are no more youngsters out there who have been abused by you but if there are that's a matter for them and the courts."