A WINCHESTER man who sexually abused two boys as a teenager has avoided a prison sentence.

Darren Bayley, 43, is set to join a sex offenders treatment programme after admitting to three indecent assaults at a care home in the 1980s.

The judge said Bayley, of Fivefields Road, Highcliffe, still posed a risk to children but needed help to overcome his mental health issues.

Winchester Crown Court heard how Bayley, aged between 14 and 16 at the time, attacked two younger boys at Maryland children's home in Basingstoke, where they all lived.

In a police interview one victim said he woke up to Bayley performing a sex act on him.

"He thought it was his girlfriend, and only when he woke up did he realise it was the defendant," said Daniel Sawyer, prosecuting.

He added: "It was reported to the staff and not very much seems to have happened. There's a suggestion that maybe he was moved into a different room but the police were not told."

The second victim, who has since undergone gender reassignment, said Bayley touched her and made her perform sex acts.

Mr Sawyer said: "It's apparent from the evidence of both victims that bullying in particular was fairly endemic within the home, and both victims say that the staff, when matters were reported to the staff, did not take the kind of action that certainly we'd expect to be taken these days. "

The first victim came forward following investigations into Jimmy Savile and other high-profile abusers, the court heard.

Mr Sawyer said: "He had seen something on television with a detective saying 'anyone who was subjected to sexual abuse as a child can come forward and we will take it seriously'."

The offences were committed when Bayley was due to be sentenced for sexually abusing three girls at the home, the court heard.

Handing down three-year community and supervision orders, Judge Keith Cutler said treatment could help Bayley recognise what triggered the abuse and prevent attacks in future.

"The public would expect there to be a custodial sentence," he added.

"I would hope that if they realise the true facts - that you were a 14- or 15-year-old boy carrying out indecent acts, by way of sexual experimentation or whatever, of 12- and 13-year-olds - they might understand why this court is not minded to send you into custody."

It followed a psychological report which found that Bayley posed further risk to children and required mental health and sex offenders treatment.

The 43-year-old has been put on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

A fourth charge will lie on file because the alleged victim could not remember what happened, the court heard.