A PAEDOPHILE care worker has been jailed for nine years by a judge who told him his offending will affect his two victims for the rest of their lives.

Huw Meurig Jones, who worked at a care home in Wrexham in the 1970s, abused two boys in his charge.

Now 69, and in failing health, he was found guilty of 10 counts of historic sexual abuse by a jury and sentenced to terms of six and three years, which are to be served consecutively.

Judge Niclas Parry told Jones at Mold Crown Court: “These were extremely disturbed children.

"An attempt had been made by the mother of one of your victims to kill him and the other had a father who was domineering and cruel.

“They entered the North Wales care system, but rather than care for them you saw them as objects to satisfy your sexual urges.

“These children in care were simply betrayed. This involved a significant degree of abuse of trust.

"I am satisfied your actions have affected them for life.”

Jones abused one boy at Little Acton Assessment Centre where he was employed between 1972 and 1976.

He also worked at Cheviot Hey Children’s Home in Wrexham between 1972 and 1974.

He abused his other victim when he invited him into his flat at Colwyn Bay to play card games including Strip Jack Naked.

At the time he was employed as a social worker by the former Clwyd Council Council on a treatment programme.

Both his victims are now in their fifties and one was in the gallery at the crown court to see Jones jailed.

One of the victims said in a statement read out in court that he had suffered from long-term relationship problems because of the abuse he suffered.

He said: “I believe my life has been damaged beyond words by Huw Jones who should have been putting me on the right track, but he took advantage of me for his own needs.”

Jones’ other victim said: “I firmly believe that my life could have been so much different if I hadn’t been abused in care.”

Defence barrister Owen Edwards told the court that Jones had been under investigation since 1992 when the allegations against him were first made.

The charges were eventually levelled against him after Operation Pallial officers re-investigated complaints under the auspices of the National Crime Agency.

Jones, of Penybryn, Old Colwyn, pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual abuse between June 1975 and October 1978.

The judge directed the jury to find Jones not guilty of two charges – indecency with a child and indecent assault, both on the first complainant.

But the jury found him guilty of three counts of indecency with a child and six counts of indecent assault on a male.

He was cleared of one charge of buggery, but he was found guilty on another buggery charge.

Jones claimed all the allegations were not true.

His barrister added: “One of the victims described himself as being alone, afraid and vulnerable when he went into care and that is the situation now facing Huw Jones.

“He is 69 and his reputation is in tatters. The reality is that he is a man of poor health.

"He is taking anti-depressants and he genuinely is a broken man.”

Jones was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.