A “scheming paedophile” who serially abused young boys while working as a shopkeeper has had the length of his prison sentence cut on appeal.Glen Goldspink, 44, was convicted of 17 sexual offences at Norwich Crown Court in September last year, including two rapes, indecent assaults, sexual assaults and charges of sexual activity with a child.

A “scheming paedophile” who serially abused young boys while working as a shopkeeper has had the length of his prison sentence cut on appeal.

Glen Goldspink, 44, was convicted of 17 sexual offences at Norwich Crown Court in September last year, including two rapes, indecent assaults, sexual assaults and charges of sexual activity with a child.

Goldspink, of Bush Elms Road, Hornchurch, Essex, ran a newsagent shop in Horning. The offences related both to Horning and his home town of Hornchurch and spanned a 17-year period between the late 1980s and 2005.

His initial sentence included 16-year jail terms for the two rapes along with an indefinite sentence of “imprisonment for the public protection (IPP)”.

Almost identical to a life term, this meant Goldspink could only ever be freed if he persuaded the authorities

he poses no further public danger.

At London's Appeal Court yesterday, Goldspink's convictions and the IPP sentence were upheld, but the time he must serve before he can seek parole was cut.

The 16-year terms for the rapes were cut to 11 and 13 years, and the “minimum term” he must serve under the IPP sentence was reduced from seven to five years.

Goldspink's crimes involved repeated sex acts against boys whom he bribed with sweets, gifts, and the offers of fishing and boating trips.

All but one of his victims were aged under 16, with one aged just eight.

The Horning series of offences was committed after he befriended a series of boys who were drawn in with the lure of fishing trips, games and visits to local amusement arcades.

He even ran up a Jolly Roger pirate flag and bunting outside his shop to lure his victims.

Mr Justice Davis, sitting with Lord Justice Gage and Judge Chapman, rejected Goldspink's application to appeal his convictions.

But the judge said the sentences passed on Goldspink, described by the original crown court judge as a “scheming and dangerous paedophile”, were excessive.