A "LIFELONG sexual predator" who lured young boys onto his boat in Bristol and raped them has been jailed for 15 years.

David Woodruff showered the boys with gifts and sweets, then subjected them to a catalogue of sexual abuse, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Although he hoped the truth would never out, one of the victims spoke up and the 67-year-old was convicted by a jury in December last year.

Woodruff, of Elm Tree Road, Locking, near Weston-super-Mare, was convicted of rape, two indecent assaults and indecency on one boy, aged 11, and rape, three indecent assaults and indecency with another boy between the ages of seven and nine.

Jailing him, Judge Mark Horton said: "You have been a sexual predator for most of your adult life.

"The indictment shows systematic grooming and abuse of young, vulnerable boys. First, vulnerable parents were groomed, then young boys. It was repeated, it was deliberate, it was calculated.

"The destructive damage caused to them was obvious and clear, from the picture they portrayed when they gave evidence before this jury. You stole their childhood."

The court heard Woodruff, right, had a boat moored at the Mud Dock, which attracted young boys to him. He abused them over a number of years and gave them money, hoping they would not reveal the abuse.

Fiona Elder, defending, said while her client had pleaded not guilty, since being convicted he had accepted a "very significant" amount of what was said about him.

Miss Elder said her client was in a settled relationship and had health problems including osteoarthritis, anxiety and stress issues.

Woodruff was told to register as a sex offender and was banned from working with young people for life. Afterwards, Detective Sergeant Jess Aston said: "The police take historical allegations of sexual abuse very seriously."