A man who groomed and sexually abused teenage boys during their school summer holidays has been jailed.

James Desiree, from Dymchurch, was given a six year sentence after admitting to five counts of sexual activity with a child.

The 39-year-old of Lower Sands had initially only pleaded guilty to two of the charges against him but changed his plea during the court proceedings and admitted to the other three charges of sexual activity with a child.

Police have praised the courage the boys showed in speaking up and reporting what Desiree had done to them.

During the summer holidays in 2013, Desiree was going under the name of Steve McWilliams and befriended a 15-year-old boy.

A few weeks after meeting the boy, Desiree pressured him into committing sexual acts on a number of occasions.

"They had the courage to speak up and report what was going on and it is due to their bravery that Desiree has been brought before the courts." Det Con Heather Moore

When the victim confided in another teenage boy about the assaults, Desiree pounced and assaulted both of them in a yard behind a cafe he owned at the time.

But the victims captured the attack on film and passed the footage on to Kent Police who arrested Desiree.

In early interviews Desiree initially denied assaulting both boys but in his second police interview officers presented the film footage.

During that second interview, Desiree admitted he had lied in his first interview.

Det Con Heather Moore, the lead investigating officer said after sentencing: “His victims were vulnerable and Desiree should have known better. He pestered his first victim into submission and carried out despicable crimes against both young boys.

“They had the courage to speak up and report what was going on and it is due to their bravery that Desiree has been brought before the courts.”

In sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court, Desiree was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely and has been disqualified from working with children for life.