A Deeside man in his twenties convicted of sexual offences against a boy aged 11 and 12 when he himself was a teenager has been jailed for two years.

Stephen Paul Reid, 25, of East Green in Sealand, denied seven offences but was convicted by a jury at Mold Crown Court in January.

He pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and inciting the boy to engage in sexual acts when he himself was aged 15 and 16.

Mr Recorder Duncan Bould ordered that Reid be placed on the sex offender register for five years.

He made a five year sexual harm prevention order and imposed a five-year restraining order under which he is not to contact the victim in any way.

The offences happened after he had been drinking, the judge said.

He said the victim was naïve and entirely vulnerable with no sexual experience at all.

The victim would dread it and would try to avoid Reid who would give him no choice.

Mr Bould said understandably the victim did not properly understand what was happening but he felt uncomfortable and upset.

He later blamed himself for what was happening and became depressed and anxious.

The victim had isolated himself at a time when he should have been enjoying his youth.

It had affected virtually every aspect of his life, said the judge.

He added Reid acted as if nothing had happened and still denied responsibility, so he could receive no credit in sentencing for showing remorse and admitting his wrongdoing.

The court heard that at the of the offences Reid had no convictions but he had gone on to commit two offences of violence.

However, he was also a hard-working man who was in a relationship and he and his partner were expecting a child.

Robin Boag, defending, said it was clear Reid had stopped offending of his own free will.

From a sexual point of view there had been nothing of concern since.

He was now in a relationship with a young woman who was standing by him and they were expecting their first child in five weeks’ time.

He had been employed with the same company for some years and there was a reference from the firm.

Other references showed the other side of the man who assisted those close to him who had health problems and disabilities, said Mr Boag.