A SERIAL child molester who sexually abused two schoolboys is back behind bars – this time for eight years.

Perverted Craig Tillotson, now 48, targeted the frightened victims in the mid 1980s, striking in old kilns known as The Fairy Caves, near the canal in Church near Accrington.

He lured one victim there with the promise of being able to fire his air rifle and bought the boy gifts so he could repeatedly subject him to obscene acts, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Tillotson has earlier been locked up for four and a half years for three charges of indecent assault against another boy.

In 1990, when he was 27, he forced the boy against a wall and tried to put his hand down the child’s trousers, but the victim kicked out and escaped.

The defendant was convicted of indecent assault.

Tillotson was said by probation officers to show no remorse or contrition and although he had co-operated with his licence, he refused to discuss his obvious problems and perverted thinking.

The defendant, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, admitted one serious sexual offence, one attempted serious sexual offence, five counts of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.

He was put on the sex offenders' register for life and given a lifetime sexual offences prevention order, banning him from unsupervised contact with children under 16 and allowing any child under 16 into his home, unless accompanied by an approved adult over 21.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told Tillotson: “I am satisfied it is necessary to make a sexual offences prevention order in order to prevent you causing serious sexual harm to other children.”

Rob Kearney, prosecuting, said the abuse against both boys started in 1984.

The second victim came forward in 2009, when he saw the defendant talking to two boys, was concerned he would do the same to them and went to the police.

Elizabeth Nicholls, for Tillotson, said since the offences, he had served his first custodial term.

She said: “Since his release on licence, he has not repeated this sort of conduct.”

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