A FORMER Bolton Lads and Girls Club hiking leader has been jailed for a string of sex offences he committed more than 20 years ago.

Joseph Donley, aged 62, of Bembridge Drive, Darcy Lever, Bolton, took his victim, aged 12 at the time, on hikes before luring him back to his home. The former primary school teacher was jailed for four years on Thursday after being found guilty by a jury of four counts of indecent assault.

Minshull Street Crown Court in Mancheter heard how Donley met his young victim at Bolton Lads Club in 1982 where the teacher led weekend hiking trips.

The boy soon became involved in the excursions and, after hiking, he would go back to Donley's house. It became a regular event, but nothing happened the first few times.

On a later visit, the boy found pornographic magazines lying around the house and was joined by Donley as he looked at them, the jury was told.

It was at this stage that Donley started his campaign of sexual abuse, the court was told.

His victim remained silent about the abuse for 21 years, but finally told his wife what happened to him and went to confront his abuser.

The victim - who is now 35 - saw his marriage crumble as a result of the abuse and, when he confronted Donley, he was accused of blackmail.

Last March, he went to Donley's house and saw him stood in his driveway talking with a neighbour. He walked up and said: "I want a word with you."

Donley, who failed to recognise the man, asked who he was. His victim replied: "You must recognise me - you abused me."

It was alleged Donley then tried to buy his victim off, offering him £15,000 to pay for his divorce or a family holiday. But the victim refused the offers.

Donley then begged him not to go to the police for the sake of his 93-year-old mother, but the victim contacted police and Donley was arrested.

On Thursday, Judge Adrian Smith sentenced Donley to four years in prison and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £1,616.

He was found not guilty of four counts of a serious sexual offence, and one count of indecency with a child.

Speaking after the court case, Donley's victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "What happened to me destroyed my life.

"I've been married and I've got kids but I could never really let anyone get close to me.

"I wanted to be able to move on. I'd had counselling and was on anti-depressants, but I knew the only way I could get my life back was if I went to the police, which I did last March.

"I found it very hard to tell people what had happened to me. This was something I'd kept to myself for more than 20 years.

"My ex-partner and I approached Donnelly at his home. He was still living in the same place. At first, he acted as if he didn't know me and denied it, but then he admitted what he'd done. He went on to deny it to the police.

"I would have liked him to have got longer, but I now know I've done everything I can do to put this behind me and he is not controlling my life any more."