A MAN from West Dorset used his position as a pilot and acted like a “sugar daddy” to abuse young boys, a jury heard.

Bartle Frere, 50, from Shipton Gorge, is on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court accused of 25 child sex offences, including indecently assaulting two boys from West Dorset and arranging or facilitating the abuse of boys in India. He denies all charges.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Elisabeth Bussey-Jones said Frere devoted “hours and hours” to helping out schools in his spare time, and acted as a “father figure” to the two alleged victims from West Dorset to gain their trust before abusing them, she added.

Speaking to Frere, Ms Bussey-Jones said: “You have not missed an opportunity to be with children whenever you can, especially with young boys you found, as you said in your evidence, aesthetically pleasing.

“You made it perfectly obvious you were a British Airways pilot to all of these children, and when you were walking along the beach in India you made no secret of it and that’s why they looked up to you.

“The Indian children were perfect targets for you.

“You would provide them with gifts and money for sweets so they were obliged to give you something in return.

“You were taking them back to your hotel, sometimes to your crew hotel with British Airways, for your own purposes.

“When you walked into their lives, you provided them with gifts you were under no obligation to give.

“You were like a sugar daddy to some of them, a gravy train. You were giving them gifts and money they were so keen to receive.”

Frere denied Ms Bussey-Jones’ statements. Later in the day, the captain of Team GB’s Paralympics fencing team, Matt Campbell-Hill gave a character statement in support of Frere, after knowing him since the age of seven.

He said Frere was an “ultimate friend” and said he didn’t believe the allegations.

The trial continues today.