A FORMER aide of Prime Minister Tony Blair has been jailed for 15 years for a string of sex offences against teenage boys.

Martyn Locklin, 41, of Ladybower, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was found guilty by the jury of eight men and four women at Teesside Crown Court earlier today.

Locklin, a member of Sedgefield Borough Council and former Leader of Great Aycliffe Town Council, was jailed for two indecent assaults against one young boy who was in his care at Aycliffe Young People's Centre between 1988 and 1991, one serious sexual offence, two counts of rape and one of indecent assault against a second teenager and two counts of indecent assault against a third young boy.

All the offences took place between 1988 and 1996.

Read The Northern Echo tomorrow for a full report from the court plus an extensive background investigation.

Updated: 17.37 Tuesday, July 3