An Oldham man is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being found guilty of the sexual abuse of four people who were young boys in the town in the 1980s.

Damien Riley was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency.

He had been on trial at the Lowry in Salford, operating as a crown court during the pandemic, over the last two weeks where he denied any wrongdoing.

The 55-year-old even went as far as to claim he did not even know two of his accusers.

But the jury saw through these denials and found him guilty unanimously on all 13 counts after around four hours of deliberation.

Riley, of Ewood in Bardsley, Oldham, made no reaction as verdict was read out and he was finally held to account for his actions around 40 years since his reign of cruelty began.

During the trial the first complainant said Riley’s conduct began in 1981 and outlined multiple occasions when he took him aside and performed sexual activities on him.

He said he could not remember all the incidents, but said the actions were “intermittent.”

The man said he had battled with it his whole life, telling his mother in 1994 and seeking counselling after that, but was only able to tell the police in 2018.

The third complainant said the abuse had taken place when the first complainant was present, but the first had no recollection of this.

He said it could have happened but he was traumatised by the abuse he had suffered to be sure.

Giving his account, Riley told the police they were “fabrications” and it emerged he had worked in a care home with children for 14 years later in life without any complaints.

Following the verdict, judge Angela Nield said the nature of the sentence was “inevitable.”

She instructed Riley to come to Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday where he may be sentenced or this may be delayed if the defence team ask for reports.

She also placed him on the sex offenders’ register, meaning he will be barred from working with children in the future.

Riley had faced another charge of indecent assault against the first complainant, but this was dropped due to a legal rule in place at the time of the allegation.

As Riley may have been under 14, there was no evidence to show even if the offence had taken place he knew it was “wrong” rather than “naughty or mischievous.”

For later charges against the same victim he issued threats, which showed he knew his conduct was wrong.