TWO men took advantage of a vulnerable teenage boy, having repeated sexual relations with him, knowing he was underage, a court heard.

Kevin Robinson, 32, and 35-year-old Terry Rayner were said to have “exploited” the boy’s vulnerability at a time he was experimenting sexually.

Durham Crown Court heard that both invited the boy, who was aged 14 and 15 at the time, to their homes for sexual encounters.

But their illicit relationships came to light after police began to investigate the boy’s activities and examined the messaging on his mobile phone.

As a result, it became apparent there was material on the internet suggesting Rayner had been having sexualised chat with the boy.

The boy was interviewed and gave a witness statement which outlined the meetings he had with the two defendants.

Louise Reevell, prosecuting, said in four subsequent police interviews after Rayner was arrested he gave “no comment” replies, but later examination of his phone and computer revealed messaging with the boy arranging the liaisons.

Following Robinson’s subsequent arrest his phones and computer were seized and on examination a large volume of indecent images of children and others featuring extreme pornography were found.

Miss Reevell said Robinson sent some of the indecent images to the boy, while he also had two pictures of him, but neither of them were said to be indecent.

During two police interviews he admitted meeting the boy and his co-accused and that sexual relations took place, but, at that stage he denied knowing the victim’s age.

In his victim statement the boy said it was a period of his life about which he felt ashamed, having sexual activity with two much older men,

He felt, however, that they had taken advantage of him at a time he was experimenting, believing the pair were his “friends”, but later realising they had just been using him.

Robinson, of Fourth Street, Horden, County Durham, admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child, plus one each of making indecent images of children, distributing indecent images and possession of extreme pornography.

Rayner, of Jubilee Crescent, Sherburn Hill, near Durham, admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child and one of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.

Jane Waugh, for Robinson, said he was sexually naïve himself, but accepts what he did was wrong.

Robin Denny, for Rayner, said he is bi-sexual and committed the offences on four occasions, which he was aware would lead to a long prison sentence.

Jailing Robinson for eight years and Rayner for seven, Recorder Tahir Khan told them: “There is a disparity in age and this was the exploitation of a vulnerable young boy.

“It, also, was not isolated, but repeat offending in both of your cases.”

Both men will be subject to restrictions over future internet use and contact with underage boys, as part of an unlimited six-point Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

They will both be subject to registration as sex offenders for life.