A disgraced Christian minister has been jailed for eight years after being convicted of a series of sickening sex attacks on teenage boys.

Perverted Neville Husband, 65, tied up and blindfolded one of his young victims and took vile pornographic photographs of him after ordering him to get undressed.

Reverend Husband used his former employment as a prison officer to induce "terror and extreme fear" in to young inmates so they would keep quiet about their horrifying ordeals.

The attacks happened at Medomsley Detention Centre in Consett, Co Durham, in the 70s and 80s where Husband spent 17 of his 27 years with the prison service.

Married Husband, who took up his religious post with the United Reform Church after leaving the prison service, continued fuelling his twisted desires even after the attacks by storing thousands of images of teenage gay sex on his home PC and church office laptop.

Explicit novels, videos and a sex aid were also found during police raids on his premises.

Husband had denied abusing six inmates aged between 16 and 19, but was found guilty by a jury of ten charges of indecent assault and one of buggery, relating to five boys.

Husband showed no emotion as Judge Esmond Faulks sentenced him to eight years behind bars.

Many of his young victims, now grown men, showed only signs of relief as they sat in the public gallery at Newcastle Crown Court to see their attacker finally brought to justice.

The court heard that the boys had been sent to the centre for "short, sharp shocks" after being sentenced for short periods behind bars.

But prosecutor Jamie Hill told the court how inmates who were sent to work in the kitchens were quickly targeted by Husband who was head chef.

Mr Hill said: "He took advantage of his position and on occasions he would blatantly indecently assault inmates in front of others working in the kitchens.

"The prosecution say that throughout this period the defendant managed to continue what he was doing and prevent complaints by inducing terror and extreme fear over those which he controlled."

Giving evidence before the jury, Kevin Young, 43, now a successful businessman, said he would plead with his tormentor to stop the repeated attacks but was warned he could easily be found hanging in his cell.

He told the court that as well as being bound, blindfolded and photographed when Husband broke prison rules to take him to his nearby home, he would also be tied to shelving inside the centre and forced to perform sex acts.

He said: "I pleaded with him to stop and became aggressive with him but I was told I could be found hanging in my cell.

"It was a threat he used on a number of occasions and that year two boys had been found hanging in their cell. I was in fear of my life."

Sentencing Husband, Judge Faulks told him: "The victims were young trainees whom you chose to work for you in your kitchen so you could abuse them.

"Their fear of you caused them to submit to your unwelcome attentions, and this was in my judgement a gross breach of trust.

"You and others like you helped cause their damaged personalities.

"Up until now, they never thought anyone would believe them."

Defence barrister Carl Gumsley said due that due Husband's previous employment as a prison officer, a custodial sentence would be extremely difficult for him.

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Young, who bravely waived his right to anonymity, said he feels no bitterness or hatred towards his abuser.

Mr Young, from Jarrow, grew up in children's homes before being sent to Medomsley for handling a stolen £12 watch.

He said: "I feel better now I've had my time in court. that is all I have ever asked for. By having my say I can move forward.

"Despite the pain I have suffered I am very lucky in the sense that my soul was never touched and for that I am grateful.

"I'm not homophobic or anti-gay but the difference is I am not gay and never did I ever have any intention of being gay.

"I have no malice against him. He has to live with whatever he has to live with and I have to live with whatever I have to live with.

"Medomsley was very sharp and it was certainly a shock. The Reverend Husband was, trust me, one of the most power crazed men I have come across and I have met some violent people."

The detective in charge of the case, Detective Inspector Simon Orton, said it was unclear whether more inmates may have fallen victim during Husband's reign of terror.

He said: "It is possible there could be a lot more. But I would anticipate there are people who have put it behind them and would simply want to leave it that way. We will have to respect that."

DI Orton paid tribute to the bravery of the victims who came forward.

He said: "They have had to relive part of their lives which they have spent years trying to shut out. They have exposed their souls. It has taken a lot for them to unburden themselves."