Paedophile publican groomed and sexually assaulted four young boys.

Southampton Pub Landlord Jailed for Sexually Assaulting Boys

Paul Bedard, a former publican in Southampton, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting four young boys. The 63-year-old, who previously ran pubs like the Honest Lawyer, The Hobbit, and the Clowns and Jesters, was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault, two counts of buggery, one count of attempted buggery, and one count of false imprisonment.

The abuse took place over eight years from 1990 to 1998, with the victims ranging in age from 11 to 18 years old. Bedard befriended the boys through his pubs and gave them odd jobs, which he then used as opportunities to sexually assault them after hours.

During the trial at Southampton Crown Court, Bedard appeared via video link from Winchester Prison and showed no remorse for his actions. While his lawyer argued for leniency due to Bedard's deteriorating health, Judge Derwin Hope emphasized the profound psychological impact of the abuse on the victims.

Judge Hope stated, "You continued to deny these offences in their entirety. You've shown no empathy and no understanding as to how the offences have impacted on these victims." He added that Bedard had inflicted "moral corruption" on each of the boys.

Detective Constable Viv Wilson praised the courage of the victims for coming forward and helping to put Bedard behind bars. She stated that this case demonstrates that victims can seek justice even after many years.

The police are continuing to investigate potential additional victims who may have suffered abuse at the hands of the former Southampton publican.