AN award-winning conductor from Otley has been jailed for 12 months for sexually abusing two young boys.

Joseph Cullen groomed his victims in the late 1970s and early 1980s while involved with choirs in Glasgow.

The 55-year-old married father of three was caught after one of his victims contacted the police in 2013.

Well-known in Otley as a cycling campaigner, Cullen returned to Glasgow High Court for sentencing on today, after earlier admitting to two charges of using lewd and libidinous conduct.

Judge Lord Turnbull said the most serious aspect of Cullen's crimes meant a jail term had to be imposed.

The abuse spanned between 1976 and 1982, and started when Cullen was in his mid-to-late teens and his victim was about eight.

The boy was groomed shortly after joining a choir at St Aloysius Church in Glasgow, in which Cullen was a member.

He secretly gave the child pocket money, gained his parents' trust and began attacking the boy in his family home.

Cullen met his second victim in the early 1980s while he was choirmaster at a singing group at Glasgow's St Andrew's Cathedral.

He would drive him to and from practice and make excuses for the boy to be in his vehicle.

Cullen again gained the trust of the family and began abusing the child when he was about 11.

The attacks took place at Cullen's then home in Glasgow, and in the cathedral's changing area.

Cullen also attacked the boy in his car while driving him from school, where he was a music teacher.

The second victim confronted Cullen in 2007, but the abuser said he could not remember anything. It was not until 2013 that the victim went to the police.

The first victim also revealed his abuse to his family at about this time. Cullen met the now 46-year-old and his father at the family home.

Prosecutor, Steven Borthwick, said: “The accused was asked questions with regard to the abuse.

"He admitted to manipulating, grooming and sexually abusing the victim."

The court heard both victims had suffered lasting damage.

In a statement, the first said: "I feel guilt and I feel shame. I wish I had a magic wand that would fix it."

The second victim also had personal issues growing up, and ended up homeless.

Cullen went on to gain plaudits as a conductor, choir master and organist, and won two Grammy Awards while director of the London Symphony Chorus.

More recently he was chorus master with Huddersfield Choral Society.

His lawyer, Jim Wallace, said: "He had a significant and successful career... but, as a result of his crimes, his downfall is now complete."

He added Cullen had shown "genuine regret".