A 72-year-old who ignored a child abduction warning notice from police and continued to see two teenage boys has been given a restraining order.

Barry Brand, of Matson Road, Ipswich, was sentenced at the town’s magistrates’ court after previously admitting two charges of detaining a child by removing them from a person having lawful control.

The court was told Brand had convictions in 1970 and 1976 which were relevant to his latest offences.

Sentencing Brand, District Judge Celia Dawson told him: “It’s clear from the interview you gave to the police and your conversation with the probation officer that you lack any level of remorse for these offences or any understanding why you should not have continued contact with these two young men.”

It was stated the two boys involved had not made any complaint.

Judge Dawson added: “The court I feel has a duty to protect victims, so therefore I’m going to make a restraining order. He should not have any contact, directly or indirectly, with the two boys. That will be until they are 18.”

In addition to the restraining order Brand was given an 18-month community order within which he must attend a rehabilitation activity requirement for up to 40 days. Brand must also pay costs of £200 and a further £85 to the victims’ fund.

Previously prosecutor David Bryant had told the court Brand had been served with a child abduction warning prohibiting contact with two boys aged under 16.

Both the teenagers’ mothers considered it was inappropriate for their sons to be associated with a male who was aged 72. It was alleged Brand was providing them with alcohol and cannabis.

Earlier this year one youngster’s mother grew concerned about where he was.

She suspected he was in Brand’s company and went to his home where she found him. Brand told police the woman’s son had been around several times after the child abduction notice had been served. He said the mum’s mind had been poisoned against him due to another matter, the court heard.

Mark Holt, mitigating, said it was not suggested anything untoward had happened to the boys.