Shropshire pub landlord jailed for sexually abusing two boys

A well-respected former Shropshire karate coach and pub landlord has been jailed for 10 years for sexually abusing two young boys.

Tony Castle, also known as Tony Boltonwood, taught hundreds of youngsters at clubs in Wellington, Ellerdine and Market Drayton and was also landlord at the Wheatsheaf in Soudley.

The 52-year-old, who most recently was running a martial arts club in Stoke-on-Trent, groomed his victims over a number of years, the city's crown court heard.

One of the boys was sexually touched, hugged and kissed by Castle over an 18-month period. The court heard some of the abuse happened at Castle's home.

Now he has been told he must serve five years in prison and another five years on licence after being labelled "a danger".

Castle admitted three cha- rges of sexual activity with a child, one charge of causing a child to watch a sexual act, one charge of sexually assaulting a child, and three charges of sexual assault.

Sentencing him, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said he would be on the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life. Castle has also been barred from working with children indefinitely.

Mr Jason Holt, for Castle, said he had accepted what he had done was wrong and inappropriate and had shown great remorse .

By Wayne Beese