A FORMER Basingstoke school teacher has been jailed for 15 years for a ''systematic abuse of trust'' by carrying out sexual assaults on two boys, one aged just seven.

Lloyd Dennis, 33, of Sopwith Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to 12 charges of sexual offences against the young boy and his older brother, who was aged between 12 and 14 at the time.

The defendant also admitted seven charges relating to indecent images of children, including one of his younger victim, and one count of extreme pornography.

Judge Peter Henry explained that the sentence he imposed would consist of 15 years in custody with an extended period of eight years.

He also made Dennis subject to a sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge.

He said: ''I accept that there is no suggestion here that you have sexually abused young pupils but nonetheless it's deeply troubling that you should obtain such a position.''

He added that the defendant's choice to become a teacher ''in my judgment is an indication of how you are out of control when it comes to young children.

''I do consider you pose a high risk to young children and I feel it's appropriate to impose on you an extended period of imprisonment.''

He added: ''You were abused as a child, that is deeply regrettable and a sad history but, in the circumstances, I do not regard that as mitigation in terms of lessening the impact you have had on your victims.

''You were aware of the damage, you were a qualified primary school teacher.''

Rob Welling, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant ''systematically abused'' the trust placed in him by the mother of the boys who allowed the younger sibling to stay overnight at his home where the offences happened.

Mr Welling said when these offences, which happened between September 2013 and November 2014, were revealed, the boy's older sibling suffered flashbacks to his youth and recalled the defendant's abuse of him dating back to the late 1990s when Dennis was aged about 16.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the boys' mother said the offences had left her ''completely stunned'' and she said: ''I feel guilty I didn't notice anything.''

She said that she had trusted Dennis and had even sought his advice because of his position as a teacher.

She said: ''I thought as a primary school teacher he would be able to help, he used to blame other people but he was to blame.''

Describing the effect on her younger son, she said: ''He is not the same little boy he once was, he is full of anger. He has constant nightmares about what happened.''

David Lyons, defending, said that his client was ''deeply remorseful'' and said he had himself been abused as a child.

He said: ''It's tragically true that very often those who offend were offended against as a child and there is a cycle.''

He added: ''He is, when confronted with the enormity of what he has done, deeply remorseful and while he accepts the family may reject it as too little too late, he would like to convey his sincere apologies and regret for what he has done.''

Dennis taught at a number of schools across Hampshire including Basingstoke College of Technology, in Worting Road, where he was a lecturer in health, social care and education, and at Marnel Junior School, in Popley Way, Popley, where he was a classroom teacher. 

Mr Lyons said: ''He will never teach again, this is entirely unrelated to his employment, he will be barred from teaching and having anything to do with young people and will have his life very much restricted.''

Detective Constable Sarah Fox, officer in the case, said: “This was a complex and disturbing case.

"Lloyd Dennis gained the trust of both these boys and used that power to sexually abuse them repeatedly.

"I would like to thank both victims and their families for their patience and understanding throughout this investigation.

"It has been an extremely difficult time for them and I hope that through these convictions and the sentence they can come to terms with what happened."

Anyone with concerns is asked to contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101.