A PERVERTED former scoutmaster has been jailed for two years after admitting sex offences against three young boys.

Brian Tullett, 65, of Avonfield, Holt, admitted carrying out five indecent assaults and committing three offences of 'grooming' young boys.

He also admitted taking an indecent photograph of one of his young victims and inciting two youngsters to carry out an indecent act on each other.

The abuse came to light last year when the parents of a 12-year-old boy became suspicious when Tullett asked to take their son on holiday to Spain.

The youngster and a 10-year-old friend had been doing odd jobs at Tullett's house.

At Swindon Crown Court on Friday Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said the boy's parents handed a letter written to them by Tullett to a school nurse who forwarded it to Melksham police. When they were interviewed the boys told officers Tullett had taken them swimming and would try to pull their trunks down and grab their genitals while in the water.

When he was arrested police found indecent photos of the boys on his computer as well as pornographic stories featuring their names.

Liz Cunningham, defending, said her client, who was formerly a scoutmaster in London for 15 years, had lived a blameless life up to this point, when his marriage broke up and having the young boys nearby made him question his sexuality.

Judge John McNaught jailed him, imposed a two-year extended licence, banned him from working with children and imposed a sexual offences prevention order restricting his liberty when he leaves jail.