A cave rescue stalwart has been jailed at the age of 84 for sexually abusing two young boys in the 1950s and 1970s.

A judge heard how one of Brian Boardman’s victims wasn’t believed when he told senior caving club members about the abuse at the time and – when he initially made a complaint to the police a decade ago – a decision was made then to take no action.

Prosecutor Tom Storey told Bradford Crown Court that it was not until a second victim reported allegations to police last year that the initial complaint was resurrected.

Last month, Boardman pleaded guilty to two charges of gross indecency with a male under 16 dating back to the 1950s and further allegations of indecent assault and indecency with a child under 14 which took place in the early 1970s.

Boardman has now been sentenced to a total of three years in prison for the abuse dating back more than half a century.

Boardman carried out the sexual assaults during his time with the Burnley Caving Club between 1958 and 1960 and the Cave Rescue Organisation, based in Clapham, in the Yorkshire Dales, in 1971.

Mr Storey told the court how Boardman was in his mid-20s when he began abusing a teenage boy who he had taken on caving trips in the region, including the Yorkshire Dales.

The first incident happened during a trip to the Settle area when Boardman asked the boy, who cannot be identified, to perform a sex act on him as they changed into their caving outfits.

The complainant, who is now in his 70s, alleged that the abuse became a regular occurrence and in his victim impact statement.

Boardman’s second victim was sexually abused by the defendant while the boy was showering under a waterfall to remove talcum powder which had been used to make it easier to put on his caving suit.

After the teenager declined to perform a sex act on Boardman, he pushed him onto the ground, pinned him down and ejaculated over him.

The second complainant said in his statement that the abuse had “totally messed my life up”.

The court heard that Boardman had no previous convictions.

Jailing Boardman, of Yealand Avenue, Giggleswick, north-west of Skipton, Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker said: “What you did all those years ago was to take advantage of your position as an able and charismatic caver.

“Nobody wants to send to prison a man of 84 in ill health, but I’m afraid I cannot avoid it much as though I would like to do so.”

Boardman, who had received an award for his 50 years of service in cave rescue, will now have to register as a sex offender with the police.