A MOTHER has spoken of her family's anguish on discovering a former scoutmaster had sexually abused her son.

Brian Tullett, 64, of Holt, faces the prospect of years behind bars after admitting eight sex offences against three young boys.

This week the 31-year-old mother of a 12-year-old boy he assaulted told the Wiltshire Times: "I feel like killing him. What he did makes me feel sick.

"Even now the boys say when they close their eyes they can see him. It has ruined their lives."

Tullet, of Avonfield, pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court on Friday to carrying out four sex assaults on her son.

He also admitted carrying out another attack on a youngster aged nine or 10 and three counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

The mother, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said Tullett had befriended the family but said they never suspected anything was amiss.

"We thought we knew him and I got on with him. I felt betrayed and angry when I found out what he had been doing.

"You bring your kids up in a loving family and you just don't expect something like this to happen to them."

All the incidents took place between August 13 and December 14 last year.

Before moving to the area just over two years ago Tullett had previously been a member of the scouting organisation in London for 15 years.

The court was told the offences against the older boy were specimen charges relating to Tullett inappropriately touching him over his clothes.

The offence against the younger boy involved carrying out a sex act on the child.

As well as indecently assaulting them, he admitted grooming them and being in the process of grooming a third child.

Detective Constable Tim Carnohan, of Melksham CID, said: "This was very calculated, there is no doubt about it. This man has a very unhealthy attitude towards young boys.

"He specifically targeted these boys and then went on to sexually assault them.

"I think it will have long term effects on the victims because their boundaries as regards to sexual activity have been so confused."

DC Carnohan hopes the recently introduced grooming legislation will lead to more paedophiles being caught before they actually go on to abuse a child.

Under the Sexual Offences Act, which came into force in May, anyone convicted of contacting a child with the intent of committing a sexual offence could face up to 10 years in jail.

The new laws are designed to protect youngsters targeted by paedophiles, who gain their trust and often that of their families before abuse begins.

The laws also cover the use of the internet to target youngsters, who may often think they are talking to a child of their own age.

Tullet was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date. He will now have to register as a sex offender.