AN aide of Prime Minister Tony Blair plied three teenage boys with money, alcohol and drugs before sexually abusing them, a court heard yesterday.

Martyn Locklin, 41, a senior Labour councillor in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency, groomed the youngsters before carrying out the "disturbing" attacks which included rape, a jury at Teesside Crown Court was told.

Mr Locklin, of Ladybower, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is charged with three counts of indecent assault against one boy and two counts of indecent assault against another boy.

He also faces a charge involving a serious sexual assault, two counts of rape and one of indecent assault against a third boy.

All the boys were aged between 14 and 15 at the time of the alleged offences. Mr Locklin denies all charges.

Jamie Hill, prosecuting, said Mr Locklin was a "strong and manipulative character", who met the first boy in 1988 when a care worker at Aycliffe Young People's Centre.

He said that, on leaving the centre, Mr Locklin immersed himself in local politics and by the time he was charged in May this year was leader of Great Aycliffe Town Council. He is also a member of Sedgefield Borough Council.

Mr Hill said that the two other boys, currently serving life sentences for murder, were also indecently assaulted by the councillor between 1993 and 1996 while living in the area.

"The defendant abused his position of trust," said Mr Hill.

"There was grooming in each case. There is no risk that these three have put their heads together and come up with these versions of events."

He added that drink, drugs and money was used to buy the silence of the first boy, gain the trust of the second child and reward the third.

The first alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Mr Locklin came to his room late at Aycliffe Young People's Centre on "at least 30 occasions" and sexually abused him.

He said: "I was his favourite. He used to get me things. He bought me some trainers and cigarettes, sweets and cannabis. He didn't do this for anybody else."

The young man, now in his 20s, said he alerted another staff member at the centre but was "not believed".

The second boy was also introduced to alcohol and cannabis by Mr Locklin after they met in 1993, the jury was told.

The boy "was in awe" of the defendant, who after initially indecently assaulting the youngster submitted him to a serious sexual assault, said Mr Hill.

The third boy was given money, alcohol and cannabis before being sexually abused, he said.

The trial, expected to last up to three weeks, continues.