A pervert who drugged and then raped a 13-year-old boy committed similar sex offences against other young victims, it has emerged.

The shocking criminal past of 55-year-old west Cumbrian Vincent Hudson came to light at Carlisle Crown Court as a judge gave him an eight year jail sentence for raping the unconscious schoolboy.

The defendant denied the rape, but a jury convicted him with a majority 11-1 verdict after hearing the harrowing account of his victim.

Now an adult, he had been left “absolutely tormented”, the court heard.

The jury had earlier heard that the boy was attacked as he visited Hudson's Whitehaven flat – a known haunt for schoolboys who wanted to buy cannabis.

While the 13-year-old was there the defendant gave him a drugged cup of tea. It was as the teenager lay unconscious that Hudson raped him.

In his evidence, the boy – now an adult - recalled how after the attack he had forced himself to believe it had not happened.

“He told himself to make a box in his head, and put the memories in there, and that was something he had seen on TV and so that's what he decided to do with this memory and he then did his best to get on with his life,” said prosecutor Robert Wyn Jones.

But the boy's mother noticed a change in her son, who became secretive.

Increasingly over the years he found it difficult to cope with what had happened until finally, unable to suppress the memory any longer, he told his mother.

Mr Wyn Jones said the boy's victim statement powerfully described the impact this had on his life.

In the years after it, Hudson was also convicted of four indecent assaults on two teenage males, said the barrister.

One victim was aged 17 or 18, and the other 15.

As he passed sentence, Recorder Michael Murray said: "In those situations both boys became unconscious having been given drink and drugs and the boys were sexually assaulted when unconscious."

Andrew Ford, for Hudson, described him as fragile, adding: "He will find the sentence hard."

Hudson, of Loweswater Avenue, Whitehaven, will have his name on the Sex Offenders' register for life.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Hayley Carson said: "Justice has been served today thanks to the bravery and strength of the victim in being able to tell the story of what happened to him at the hands of Hudson.

"The attack occurred [years] ago but continues to have a detrimental effect on the victim's life. The actions of offenders like Hudson leave long-lasting effects on their victims – vulnerable, innocent children.

“I hope that today's sentence helps the victim in this case to move forward and regain some normality in life. It also serves as a warning to anyone else who thinks they can get away with such offences.

"Cumbria Constabulary will not stop in its drive to bring offenders to justice and I hope this outcome will help to encourage victims of serious sexual offences to have the confidence to come forward and report it, no matter how long ago the offence took place."