A CRICKET coach who befriended a young player and subjected him to years of sexual abuse has been jailed.

David Wallis abused his position at Greenside Cricket Club, in Gateshead, to prey on the teenager, taking him back to his home for sickening sex attacks.

The perverted coach even invited another man round to his house to perform sex acts with the youngster while he watched.

But after living with his harrowing ordeal for 10 years, Wallis’ traumatised victim finally found the courage to speak out and now the 55-year-old paedophile has now been jailed for the campaign of abuse that ruined the young man’s life. Sentencing Wallis – of Scales Crescent, in Prudhoe, Northumberland – to three-and-a-half years in prison,

Judge Michael Cartlidge said: “Day by day this unfortunate young man still suffers from the misconduct of this defendant. There has been a background of intimidation and coercion because he was in a position of trust.” Newcastle Crown Court heard how Wallis began his horrendous abuse in 2000, when his victim was in his early teens.

Julian Smith, prosecuting, said: “A close relationship began to develop between (the victim) and the defendant and when matches were called off he would go with the defendant to the defendant’s home.

“He recalls he was young when these visits began.”

Over time Wallis began touching the boy, and he encouraged him to wrestle with him.

Mr Smith said: “He would sit on his shoulders and the defendant would try to pull his trousers down.

“And after a while this would become more obvious.

“He would have a bath and then join him in the lounge. He would be naked.”

It was on these occasions that Wallis would begin to sexually assault his young victim, sometimes while watching pornography on the television.

The abuse continued for two years.

The boy did not tell anyone what had happened to him until last year.

He eventually sought help to deal with his past and when he told a counsellor what had happened to him, it was reported to the police. Wallis was arrested in March last year and eventually pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child.

Anne Richardson, defending said: “He actually wants to be helped to understand why he behaves in this way. He has pleaded guilty and shown remorse and said if there was anyway he could make amends he would.”

Det Con Dave Garrity of Northumbria Police’s Rape Investigation Team has praised Wallis’ victim for his courage in coming forward and reporting the abuse.

“I welcome the sentence which shows the seriousness of these despicable offences,” he said.

“Wallis cynically took advantage of a young boy who he first befriended and then assaulted. He subjected him to years of abuse, but now he is behind bars where he belongs.”