A garage boss who had sexual activity with an underage teenager on at least a hundred occasions was jailed for 10 years.
Martin Sharrett, now 62, from Eaton Bray, near Leighton Buzzard groomed the boy when he was just thirteen and abused him for the next two years.
He was given a 10 year prison sentence on Monday, June 12, 2023, with a three year licence extension, meaning that once he is released, he can be recalled to prison at any time up to 2036.
Prosecutor Laura Blackband told Luton Crown Court the abuse happened pretty much every weekend and in the school holidays between 2011 and 2014.
Sharrett told him to “keep it under our hat,” saying: ”It is our little secret.” The victim said he had “suffered greatly and found what happened extremely difficult to deal with emotionally.”
He said he found relationships with girlfriends difficult and had “terrible flashbacks and memories.”
Sharrett also sexually harassed two other men in their 20s, asking to see their backsides and trying to pull their trousers down.
He appeared for sentence having been convicted of nine offences of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault.
Defending, Paul Lazerous said Sharrett still denies the offences. He said he had no previous convictions, had been arrested in 2017 and has not reoffended.
Mr Lazerous said Sharrett has a supportive family and stable accommodation. Judge Steven Evans told him he had groomed the youngest victim.
He told him: “You had a sexual interest in young males.
“I found all the victims’ evidence to be honest and compelling.
“You have had a long-lasting negative impact on these three men. You took advantage of them.”
He must register as a sex offender for life, is barred from working with children and must abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.
Sharrett was also banned from contacting the victims directly or indirectly.
