A man has been jailed for three years for sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy while a member of an alternative Scouting movement.

Anthony Seymour, 55, of Brighton, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing after being convicted of indecently assaulting the boy in January.

Seymour was also found guilty of indecently assaulting another boy who was under 16.

His co-accused, Michael Deacon, 31, of Winchester, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for indecently assaulting the 11-year-old boy. Both were acquitted of rape in the earlier trial.

Judge David Thelwood, who was told Seymour had convictions for indecently assaulting children dating back to the Sixties, said: "Your past has not done you any credit. There are gaps showing you can stay out of trouble but apparently you are susceptible to relapses."

Sentencing Deacon, he said: "There was a serious breach of trust on your part, not only the breach of trust with the colleagues you belonged to but with the father of the child and the child who placed his trust in you."

Seymour and Deacon will be placed under supervision orders following their release from jail and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and ten years respectively.

A spokesman for the Legion of the Frontiersmen, which was set up in 1904 and had members including Edgar Wallace and C Aubrey Smith, said it now had checks in place within the organisation to search for previous convictions, particularly sex offences.