A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed after he sexually abused two boys in the 1990s, paying the younger £1 to perform sex acts on him.

Stuart Jacques was a youth himself when he committed all but one of the offences in Kidderminster between 1991 and 1993.

The 42-year-old, now of Quay Street, Dyfed, Cardigan, Wales, admitted five counts of indecency with a child, four counts of indecent assault and one count of an attempted sex assault and was jailed at Worcester Crown Court.

One of the boys, the victim in nine out of the 10 counts, was aged between nine and 10 at the time, the other aged between 12 and 14. At the time Jacques was either16 or 17 for all but one count, the attempted sex assault, which he committed when he was 18.

Michael Hall, prosecuting, said Jacques would play games with the boys, including ‘spin the bottle’ during which he and the boys would remove their clothes.

Mr Hall added the older of the boys recalled at the time feeling what was happening was wrong.

During the course of the abuse the younger boy would find himself alone with Jacques who would encourage him to perform sex acts, paying him £1 which the boy used to buy sweets and cakes.

Jacques was arrested in December 2015. Mr Hall said since his arrest Jacques had become withdrawn and there were concerns about his mental health.

Mr Hall said the younger victim had attempted suicide which he had described as ‘a cry for help’ and suffered flashbacks, sleepless nights and panic attacks.

The older boy said the abuse had had a ‘profound effect on him’. He described flashbacks and a feeling of guilt because he felt he had not done enough to stop the abuse of the younger boy.

Charles Hamer, defending, said Jacques at the time of the offences had been ‘a very immature person indeed’ and had been affected by a lack of intimacy with his father.

A psychiatrist said Jacques was suffering from adjustment disorder.

He had been ‘catatonic’ when interviewed by police in Kidderminster and had told a psychiatrist he felt like killing himself Mr Hamer said.

As a result of the offences Jacques had been ‘entirely isolated from all of his family with the single exception of his sister'.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright QC sentenced him to 40 months in prison for the attempted sex assault and 16 months concurrently for each of the five counts of indecency with a child. He sentenced him to 27 months for the four indecent assaults, also to be served concurrently.

Jacques must also serve an extra year on licence.