A WESTON man who sexually abused two boys in the 1970s and 1980s has been jailed for five years and one month.

Raymond Poyner, 73, was sentenced at North Somerset Courthouse on Friday, January 5, after pleading guilty to the non-recent assaults.

In the 1970s, Poyner worked as a residential social worker in Cornwall. During his time there, he groomed and sexually assaulted a boy in his care at a children's care home.

The man who was abused, who is now in his 50s, said that what Poyner did to him "consumes" his thinking.

In a victim statement prepared for the sentencing hearing, he said: “Since my childhood, what Poyner did to me sticks in my mind, it consumes a lot of my thinking and the way I view my life.

“I still have no trust in anyone, and even after all this time, I find it difficult to form relationships. I just cannot allow anyone to get close to me; I cannot take people into my confidence.

“Now Poyner has been sentenced there is some closure to this episode. Having said that, I don’t think I will ever put behind me the thoughts of what Poyner put me through.”

Following his time in Cornwall, Poyner moved to the Axbridge area in the 1980s, where he assaulted a second boy.

The man said that the abuse he suffered has impacted his ability to form relationships.

He said in a victim personal statement: “My whole life has been centred around what Poyner put me through. I have little trust in those in authority, this view is jaded by the fact Poyner was a social worker, a position of authority.

“I have always felt somewhat of an outsider, and found it difficult to form relationships.

“A lot of people think I am an extrovert, and have self-confidence. However, this is a disguise, and I am still a terrified teenage boy inside.”

In October, Poyner pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault.

He also pleaded guilty to being in possession of indecent photos of children relating to three images and one video he was found to have in January 2021.

On top of his prison sentence, Poyner is subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and barred from ever working with children.

Recorder Jaron Crooknorth, the judge, called Poyner a "predatory offender" who abused a position of trust to groom young boys.

DC Mike Tarling said: “Raymond Poyner sexually abused two children the best part of 50 years ago but the impact of his crimes continues to be felt by those two men.

“Both have shown incredible strength and courage to report what happened. Without that, Poyner would never have been brought before the courts again.

"Poyner was convicted of a similar offence in the 1980s involving a different child and his clear predatory behaviour led to him more recently being made subject to a sexual harm prevention order."