A PERVERT who preyed on young boys in Clayton-le-Moors was today starting a six-year sentence.

Bisexual Mark Davis, 24, hung around local recreation grounds where boys played football, befriended his victims and showered gifts and treats on them to groom them for his sexual gratification, a court heard.

Davis, who fondled and groped the boys, also committed sex acts on himself in front of them and in public areas frequented by children.

One victim started bed wetting because of his ordeal at Davis' hands and the child's father tried to commit suicide, Burnley Crown Court was told. The defendant later told the police he had been attracted to the boys and had been overpowered by his own feelings.

Sentencing Davis, Judge Barbara Watson said his actions had been pre-meditated planned and calculated and had serious and adverse consequences on two of the victims.

She told the defendant, who had previously been given probation for sex offences, he still posed a high risk to them.

Judge Watson continued: "The court has a duty to protect the young victims of sexual assaults, they and their parents are entitled to look to the courts for effective protection, the court also has a duty to deter others who may be tempted to behave in the way that you did."

Davis, of Waterloo Street, Clayton-le-Moors, admitted eight offences of indecent assault and two of outraging public decency. He was jailed for four years with two years extended licence, disqualified from working with children and put on the sex offenders register.

Peter Horgan, prosecuting, said Davis systematically abused the boys, groomed them by taking them to the pictures and bowling and spent significant amounts of money on them. The offences were committed over six months last year when the victims were aged between 11 and 13.

Davis's conduct came to light last July 19 when the parents of two of the boys, who were schoolfriends, were concerned about where they were. They were worried because the children had been spending time with the defendant and receiving gifts.

The boys were found walking with Davis on Whalley Road and were later interviewed by police.

Mr Horgan said the victims told officers the defendant had been with them to McDonalds as well as to the cinema and bowling, he bought one a £44 gameboy and the other a mobile phone. One boy said Davis had accompanied him on his paper round and touched him indecently.

Tim Ashmole, defending, said Davis was unable to control his sexual compulsions. He saw the gifts to the boys as generosity but had come to terms with the fact it could be interpreted as grooming.

The defendant had had a turbulent lifestyle and upbringing and said he felt he had never been loved by anybody in his life. He could not mix with people his own age Davis felt ashamed and hoped the boys would not be scarred for life.

Speaking after the case Detective Inspector Pete Broome, of Accrington CID, said: "The sentence that Davis has received today reflects the seriousness of his offending and the extended licence will allow the authorities to exercise some control over his activities when he is eventually released. He will at that time be the subject of follow-up visits by specially trained officers, wherever he may choose to live."