A 24-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years for a number of child sex offences while he was at a special needs boarding school in West Sussex. Phillip Scott, of Sidmouth, Devon, was sentenced on Tuesday (November, 26) having been convicted of 28 counts of sexual offences between 2012 and 2016. This included sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child into sexual activity and offences linked to indecent images of children. Police said Scott 'groomed' a younger boy over the internet, into engaging in sexual activity online. Scott was found not guilty of grooming a fourth younger boy over the internet into carrying out sexual acts online. Officers said they found several electronic devices containing many indecent images of children at Scott's address. He is now a registered sex offender for life and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court notice, severely restricting his access to children and computers. DC Nicky Beard said: "Scott had taken advantage of these vulnerable young boys over a period of years for his own sexual gratification. "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 the 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." More Radio is continuously dedicated to providing a quality news service on-air and online, reporting local stories that matter across Sussex.
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