A PENSIONER who sexually abused two young boys in Swindon in the 1970s has been warned to expect a lengthy jail term.

Raymond Clarke, 73, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecent assault and a one of a serious sexual assault.

But following a trial at Swindon Crown Court a jury took just three hours to find Clarke guilty of all the charges.

Clarke, who had a career in the RAF, carried out the serious sexual offence against a boy, who was under the age of 14, in the three years to May 1974.

He also indecently assaulted the boy on four occasions during the same period as well as committing a similar offence on another boy, who was under 18, some time in 1970.

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to give Clarke, now of Lydney, Gloucestershire, time to get medical reports.

The court was told that he had heart problems and was on the waiting list for an operation at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

The judge told him: "You have been convicted on clear evidence by the jury of six very serious offences.

"Not withstanding your age and state of health you must expect a prison sentence of some length.

"You will come back to be sentenced by me in a couple of weeks time on a date to be fixed."

Granting him bail on condition he does not contact the victims he added: "That is no indication that you will not be sentenced to an immediate prison sentence."

The pensioner will also now have to register as a sex offender with the total time he must continue to do so determined by the ultimate sentence.