Man who plied teenage boy with drugs before sexually assaulting him jailed

Preston Crown Court heard the teenager’s friends had suggested to him he was being groomed after he revealed Adam Hardy, 32, of Gregory’s Court, Lancaster, was giving him cannabis and vodka.

Hardy, a team leader for a catering firm, received a 15 month jail term, suspended for two years, must attend a sex offender’s programme and will be on the register for 10 years.

Prosecuting, Francis McEntee said: “The complainant was not interested in any relationship with him but makes it plain he was interested in the fact he was getting drink and drugs free from him.

“He says they had been drinking vodka. They were sitting on the bed in the defendant’s room in the defendant’s parents address.”

Hardy “dived” onto the boy and put his hands down his pants and grabbed him but later apologised.

A few weeks later, at another man’s home, Hardy put his hands down the boy’s tracksuit trousers and groped him – and the victim threatened to “break his nose”.

The final incident happened in Hardy’s kitchen, when the boy fought back and gave him two black eyes.

The boy’s friends advised him to tell his mother and it was reported to the police.

Defending, Chris Hudson said: “He’s gay but he’s not aggressive.

“He’s a pleasant man. He had three Achilles heels – drink, cannabis and cocaine.”

Judge Sara Dodd said: “He was 15 when you first abused him – that it what it was.

“You, after consuming drugs and drink, touched him. On the final occasion he gave you what is colloquially known as a good hiding.”