Football coach jailed for grooming and sexually abusing boys

Martin Fisher has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life

A former language teacher and football coach who groomed and sexually abused three boys has been jailed for three years.

Martin Fisher, 63, of Ramsay Street, Scarborough, plied his victims, then aged 17 and 18, with alcohol and abused them at his home between 1986 and 2001.

York Crown Court heard he had admitted 10 offences including indecent assault and making indecent images of children.

Police said he abused his position "for his own sexual gratification".

Fisher, who taught at Scarborough Sixth Form College for two decades, carried out the crimes "under the pretence of physiotherapy and massages" at his home where he hosted parties, showing the teenagers pornographic videos and allowing them to use his car, North Yorkshire Police said.

'Distressing period'

He also downloaded indecent images of children, detectives said.

Det Con Alison Morris said: "This is a clear case of grooming demonstrated by Fisher's befriending of his victims and showering them with alcohol, cigarettes and access to a car. He made them feel beholden to him and unable to report the abuse that was taking place.

"His victims have showed great courage in coming forward and reporting the abuse to the police.

"Thankfully he has spared them the ordeal of giving evidence in court by pleading guilty to the charges and I now hope the outcome of this case allows them to put a distressing period of their lives behind them."

Fisher pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault and seven of making indecent images of children at Scarborough Magistrates Court on 30 October.

He has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.