Dewsbury Moor sex offender jailed

Judge Penelope Belcher sentenced Garry Hoodless, 41, to three years in prison for seven counts of historic sexual offences including buggery, indecent assault on a male and indecency with a child.

The father-of-three, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, assaulted the boys when he was a teenager in the late 1980s.

Richard Canning, mitigating, told Leeds Crown Court that Hoodless, whose partner is standing by him, has not reoffended.

He added: “He has worked for the majority of his adult life, he has raised a family and he has bettered himself over the last 27 years. The impact on his own family of any custodial sentence would be devastating.”

The offences took place between September 1986 and June 1987 when Hoodless, who was living in Birstall, was 14.

Hoodless abused the boys, who were both under 11, as they watched TV with him.

He threatened them with a stick kept in the kitchen cupboard if they suggested telling anyone.

Judge Belcher agreed to take into account Hoodless’ age at the time and his good character since, but said the seriousness of the offences warranted an immediate jail term.

She described the distress both boys suffered at the time, adding: “You were aware what you were doing was unwelcome but you continued with these offences for your own sexual gratification.”

Judge Belcher also described how one of the victims, now in his 30s, was on anti-depressants and had tried to take his own life several times.

The offences came to light after another man made allegations of abuse dating back to the early 1990s, but Hoodless was found not guilty at trial of those charges.

Hoodless was also given a sexual offences prevention order.