A YOUNG man who systematically sexually abused three younger boys while he was at a special needs boarding school has been sentenced to a total of 18 years imprisonment.

Phillip Scott, 24, of Sidmouth, Devon, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court having been convicted in May 2019 after a trial, of 28 counts of sexual offences while at school in Mid Sussex.

He had been convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child, and four counts of causing or inciting a child into sexual activity.

Scott was also convicted of 19 offences of making indecent images of children and one offence of distributing indecent offences of children.

Three further offences of possessing indecent images of children at his address in Devon were taken into consideration by the court in sentencing.

Scott will be a registered sex offender for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court notice, severely restricting his access to children and computers.

The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an investigation by detectives from the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit.

Scott, known as Pip, had been at Philpots Manor School in West Hoathly between 2012 and 2015.

While there he sexually assaulted two vulnerable boys at the school who were much younger than him.

He also “groomed” a younger boy, also at the school, while not actually physically assaulting him, over the Internet, into engaging in sexual activity online.

Scott was found not guilty of grooming a fourth younger boy, not at the school, over the internet into carrying out sexual acts online.

When police searched Scott’s address, they found several electronic devices containing many indecent images of children, some of which he had contributed to others with an interest in such material.

Detective Constable Nicky Beard said; “Scott had taken advantage of these vulnerable young boys over a period of years for his own sexual gratification, and our investigation began when the mother of one of them contacted the school, who immediately contacted us.

“The victims bravely supported our investigation throughout. Two of them gave evidence at Scott’s trial with special support arrangements, including speaking from behind screens shielding them from the direct view of the defendant. The mother of the third boy also gave evidence.

“We had full support from Philpots Manor School throughout our investigation, and we are also grateful for the assistance of Devon and Cornwall Police in carrying out local enquiries and searches in co-operation with us.

“This was a complex and sensitive investigation, and we are glad that justice has now been done for the boys and their families.”