A RYEDALE man is today starting a jail sentence for sexually abusing a boy in a hotel and at his home.

Carl Hoban initially lured the 15-year-old to the Grand Hotel in Scarborough with a tale of him getting involved in the 65-year-old man's itinerant gold and silver trading, York Crown Court heard.

There he made sexual advances to the boy, despite knowing that he was underage.

During their three-month association Hoban booked a room at the same hotel two more times so that he could sexually abuse the boy, the jury were told.

Hoban claimed the boy had told him he was 16 and he had no reason to believe otherwise. But PC Georgina Hanson told the jury Hoban told her the boy was 14.

Hoban, of Mill House, Potter Hill, Pickering, denied three charges of grooming the boy for sex and three charges of sexual activity knowing that the boy was underage, but was convicted by the jury after 50 minutes in retirement.

They cleared him of a further three charges of sexual activity, which he also denied. Then they heard he has 48 previous convictions, mostly for dishonesty.

Remanding him in custody overnight, the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC told him: "You have been convicted by this jury of serious offending in relation to a minor. A custodial sentence awaits you."

A guest at the hotel, Deborah Steele, told the jury she was concerned about the boy when she saw him apparently alone at the hotel because he was wearing a school uniform and appeared to be younger than the 16 years he claimed to be. She took him to his room where Hoban said he was the boy's uncle.

Hotel staff called in police when receptionist and maintenance employee Reece Holmes realised Hoban and the boy were sharing a double bed. He told the jury the boy appeared to be 14 or 15 and Hoban claimed to be the boy's grandad, but the boy said he was with his uncle.

The length of the sentence will be decided today (Wednesday).