A FARMER and former NFU chairman from Breadstone who groomed a teenage boy for sex will not see his "lenient" jail term increased.

Married dad Simon Pain, 47, said he had become confused about his sexuality when he began plying the 15-year-old with gifts.

He then sexually assaulted him twice - in the back of his car and in a hotel room during a trip away.

The abuse came to light when the boy's mother called police and Pain, of Billow Farm, admitted what he had done.

He pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults in October and was jailed for 14 months at Gloucester Crown Court.

Today, the case was back in court after a reference by attorney general, Jeremy Wright QC, on the basis that the term was too soft.

But while Lady Justice Hallett agreed that a 14-month stretch was "lenient", she said it was not so short that it would have to be increased.

The judge, sitting at the Court of Appeal, said she personally would have jailed Pain for two years, ten months longer than he was.

She added: "On balance, we have decided that, although a difference of 10 months is lenient, it is not unduly lenient."

The court heard Pain was well-respected in his community for his role in the National Farmers’ Union and the fact he ran a successful farm.

Numerous people are dependant on the farm, which itself is dependant on him, said the judge.

He had been going through a difficult period in his life and querying his own sexuality when he became attracted to the boy.

He bought him presents and showered him with attention, grooming him in the hope of satisfying his sexual urges.

Twice, he assaulted the boy when they were alone together - the second time in a "planned" way.

The appeal judge, sitting yesterday with Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb and Judge Martin Picton, said it had had a traumatic effect on the boy.

William Emlyn Jones, for the attorney general, argued that the crown court judge had not punished Pain severely enough.

But although Lady Justice Hallett said she would have passed a longer term, the difference was not enough to justify increasing it now.