A member of the "Bolton 7" sexually abused three boys in the 1990s, a jury has found.

Norman Williams, of Leigh Road, Atherton, was part of the group who received compensation after their case went to the European Court of Human Rights.

It centred on consensual sexual activity with a 17-year-old, which was illegal at the time but the law later changed.

But now Williams has been convicted of abuse of three young boys at his homes in Hagg Fold and Atherton.

The sexual activity took place after he had left Bolton after being involved with the court case in the 1990s.

He went on trial at Bolton Crown Court accused of indecent assaults and rapes against the first two complainants and a single indecent assault against the third.

Williams, 58, claimed there had been sexual activity with the first two complainants which was consensual when they were above the age of consent and that nothing whatsoever had happened with the third.

However the jury found him guilty of a number of counts.

Against the first complainant he was found guilty of three counts of rape and seven of indecent assault.

Against the second he was found guilty of two indecent assaults, two rapes and one actual bodily harm.

He was also found guilty of the single count of indecent assault against the third complainant.

Williams had been accused of the rape of the second complainant together with an unknown person at an address in Bolton.

However the jury returned a not guilty verdict on this count.

Judge Jon Close had also instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict on a charge of carrying out an indecent assault on the second complainant which was also alleged to have taken place with an unknown man in Bolton.

And the judge also requested the jury to return a not guilty verdict on two charges of indecent assault against the first complainant.

The trial heard Williams was part of the "Bolton 7" and had received £15,000 in compensation after the conviction for sexual activity with a man under 18 was overturned.

The first complainant said he had been "sexually abused" between the ages of 12 and 16.

Williams will be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court next month.