Father 'disgusted' at former soldier, 38, who lured his son, 12, back to his home for booze

A former soldier is facing a jail sentence for child abduction after he persuaded a boy of 12 and other children back to his house to drink booze - convincing the lad's parents he was a parent.

Anthony Lingard, 38, allowed his victim and other children to come to his home in Radcliffe, where he was said to be known for teaching local children about nature and how to build dens, a court was told.

The victim's father said he was 'disgusted' at Lingard, a childless loner who was a soldier in the Welsh Fusiliers who also worked as a PCSO in Eccles and later as a firefighter in Ramsbottom.

Lingard gave the boys 'free rein' at his home where they were allowed to stay over, drink alcohol and vape, prosecutor Nicola Carroll told Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

The defendant would buy alcohol for his visitors, take them on camping trips and even told his young victim he could bring his girlfriend, the court was told.

"In fact the boys were allowed to do what they wanted to do at the defendant's house and so they returned time and time again," Ms Carroll told the court. His victim told his parents that Lingard was the father of a friend who would also visit the house, she said.

During one camping trip, Lingard allowed the boys to drink, play drinking games and he slept with them in the tent - his victim became 'drunk' while situation made the youngster feel 'uncomfortable', said the prosecutor.

Ms Carroll said the defendant was 'complicit in the deception' - when he spoke to his victim's father he continued the pretence of being the father of one of the victim's friends.

For each visit his son was planning to make to Lingard's home, the victim's father would phone Lingard 'to check it was OK' that his son could come around. The