A FORMER leisure centre worker was sentenced to 18 years for sexually abusing two boys in attacks which a judge said robbed them of their childhood.

John Glyn Jones, aged 55, of Roundhouse Close, Nantyglo, was found guilty of 11 charges of committing serious sexual offences against the two boys, as well as charges of indecent assault and committing acts of gross indecency. He had denied the offences took place, some of which dated back to 1979.

Jones is also currently serving a ten-year sentence which was imposed in 1999 for offences including indecent assault and rape, and committing serious offences involving five boys and a girl.

After the latest trial at Cardiff crown court, Judge Christopher Llewellyn Jones directed that the two sentences run concurrently.

He ordered Jones, known locally as Nipper, to register as a sex offender for life and never to work with children.

The judge said that Jones had systematically abused the first boy when he was aged from ten to 15.

"It's an understatement to say that he lost his childhood due to your perversion."

The judge said: "He was forced by you to give evidence and relive the most horrifying acts. He was totally under your control and could not tell anyone. I have no doubt you targeted him and you then satisfied your perverted lust on him."

The second boy, said the judge, had been "groomed" by Jones, who treated him as special.

"The two children were put into your care and trust. You are arrogant in the way you committed the offences."

One of the victims welcomed the sentence imposed on his abuser as "brilliant".

Now 24, he said: "Once he knew I was crying and didn't want to do it, he said if I told my mum and dad then they wouldn't love me. He would make me feel if I did that then I would spoil it for everyone. It's a nightmare that's still going on. I wake up in the night regularly with panic attacks."

Prosecutor Christopher Vosper, QC, told the jury: "This case involved the sexual abuse of two boys who were used to satisfy the sexual desires of Jones."

The abuse, he said, revolved around Nantyglo leisure centre.

At one time Jones was the swimming instructor and used his position to cultivate relationships with the victims to whom he would show favouritism and tell them that they were special.

Mr Vosper said that Jones committed some offences when a boy was pushed over his desk in his office, in the girls' changing rooms, when a boy was held over a bench, after a swimming gala, in his home, in his car, in the sunbed room at the centre in the swimming pool itself and in a storeroom.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Mark Warrender, who investigated, said: "John Glyn Jones is a dangerous sex offender who systematically abused his victims and robbed them of their innocence."

Others are cleared OTHER defendants who appeared with Jones were cleared of all the charges against them.

They were: Walter Syrett, 43, of Cwm Cottage Road, Abertillery, Geoffrey Hollett, 55, of Goodwick Close, Barry, Rex Barnett, 69, of Market Road, Nantyglo, and Sylvia Wetherall, 49, of The Rise, Nantyglo.

Hollett had faced charges of committing serious offences, and taking an indecent photograph.

Syrett had been charged with committing serious offences, imprisoning a boy. Barnett had been accused of offences of indecent assault, gross indecency and committing a serious offence.

Wetherall was cleared of jointly inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency. The prosecution offered no evidence against husband and wife Irene Watkins, 56, and Martin Watkins, 57, of Clarence Street, Brynmawr, teacher Susan Lewis, 44, of High View, Tredegar Road, Ebbw Vale and Deborah Whitby, 33, of Clovelly Avenue, Tyllwyn, Ebbw Vale.

Susan Lewis denied three charges of committing an act of gross indecency and one charge of indecent assault.

Irene Watkins denied one charge of committing an act of gross indecency and one of indecent assault and Martin Watkins also denied a charge of indecent assault and Whitby denied a charge of indecent assault.

Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones recorded formal verdicts of not guilty.