A PREDATOR has been jailed for 13 years for historic sexual offences against two young boys.

Keith Freeman, retired, of Brighton Road, Newhaven, was convicted of seven offences last Wednesday after admitting to three others.

The 68-year-old committed nine offences of buggery, attempted and gross indecency against one boy aged between 11 and 16, between 1979 and 1983.

He also committed one offence of indecent assault against a second boy, then aged between 15 and 17, between 1983 and 1984.

Both of the boys were taken back to his former flat in Norfolk Road, Brighton, where the offences took place.

He met the first vulnerable boy in the city centre, invited him back to his flat and began a series of sexual assaults that extended over four years, until the boy turned 16 and felt brave enough to end the relationship.

The second boy fell into Freeman’s clutches when he was 15.

Freeman offered him a lift while he was hitchhiking home and made advances to the boy, before engaging him in sexual activity.

Detective Constable Tom Duffy described Freeman as a “predatory sexual offender”.

He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on the same day he was convicted and will be a registered sex offender for life.