The coach of a Deal and Dover sailing club has been sent to prison after admitting a series of sex offences involving young boys.

Pervert Michael Gough – who taught at the Downs Sailing Club between Walmer and Deal – was arrested after police were alerted.

They raided the home of the 27-year-old and discovered he had been sending pornographic images of women via Facebook before suggesting the teenage boys could be gay.

Now Gough, of Buckland Avenue, Dover, has been jailed for 14 months after pleading guilty to eight sex charges – including downloading illegal images of children.

"Gough tried to suggest his inappropriate contact with young boys was just a bit of friendly banter..." - DS Shaun Creed

Prosecutor Christopher May told Canterbury Crown Court how Gough targeted the youngsters via social media before engaging them in sex chat.

On one occasion he drove a teenager to a house in Eastry where, in the guise of play, made his victim feel uncomfortable by nuzzling his neck while pretending to tickle him.

Oliver Kirk, defending, told the court that Gough has a low IQ but was good at sailing – but he denied joining the club just to target young boys.

He said the conversations, via Facebook, had gone from “innocent banter” to sex offending, but Judge Adele Williams retorted they had shown “an escalating pattern of offending”.

She said the fact Gough took one victim to a house where he had “no hope of escape” before being assaulted was “a very serious offence”.

After the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Shaun Creed said: "Gough tried to suggest his inappropriate contact with young boys was just a bit of friendly banter when in fact he made his victims feel uncomfortable and often scared.

"I'd like to pay tribute to those victims and their families for having the courage to come forward and support a prosecution and hopefully Gough’s sentencing will bring some closure to them."