A man still himself scarred from years of childhood abuse groomed two teenage girls at a council-run hostel for homeless families.

Peter Maynard, 51, was living at Underwood House, Stratton, with his own teen children in 2002 when he started preying on the girls – then aged 13 and 15.

Swindon Crown Court heard the environment at the council flats was dysfunctional, with Maynard’s lawyer comparing it to the hellish scenes drawn by 18th century artist William Hogarth.The abiding smell at the hostel was cannabis, solicitor Rob Ross said. Adults shared drink and drugs with the children.

Mr Ross told the court: “Places like Underwood House still exist. Places like Underwood House should not exist.”

In 2002, Maynard was living at the Swindon Road block with his family.

At the start of the year a 13-year-old girl moved into one of the flats with her dad, a man described as showing little interest in her.

Maynard took an interest in the girl, inviting her to share cannabis and booze. The abuse began in March when Maynard kissed the girl after play fighting with her.

Despite the girl’s young age, Maynard regularly had sex with her – including unprotected sex.

By mid-summer the teenager had moved out to live with her mum. Maynard and the girl spent a night away together alone, prompting the police to be called out. He instructed the youngster to tell police she was going out with his son.

He then began a relationship with another girl, then 15, after sharing cannabis with her at Underwood House.

She said she “liked being treated like a grown-up”.

The pair had unprotected sex, but the girl was so worried she might fall pregnant that on one occasion she took a pregnancy test.

Maynard would pick her up from a work experience placement. He was described by his victim as having a high sex drive.

The abuse lasted for six months and continued even after the girl was moved to new accommodation.

Prosecuting, Mary Aspinall-Miles said the older girl’s mum had ignored the abuse: “There was a rather dysfunctional parenting situation.

“She, the victim, said her mother knew about the relationship. Clearly, a blind eye was being turned.”

Both girls told detectives they felt they were to blame for what had happened.

In an interview detailing the impact on her and summarised for the court by Ms Aspinall-Miles, the younger girl said Maynard had made her feel safe and “rather sadly” made her feel loved.

“She now describes it as rather than being the hugs and comfort she was looking for from an adult, he used her,” the barrister said.

Now in her early 30s, the woman said she felt angry and ashamed. The abuse had affected her trust in others.

She wanted Maynard to acknowledge what he had done and apologise.

Ms Aspinall-Miles said: “There’s the signs that she was blamed and that she blamed herself for allowing herself to be in that situation when she was a 13-year-old child.”

But Judge Peter Crabtree was clear when he told Maynard as he was being sentenced: “There is of course only one person to blame in this case and that is you.”

The older victim said in her interview with detectives that when police first contacted her she was surprised as she didn’t think what had happened was wrong.

Ms Aspinall-Miles said: “As time has gone on and she allowed time to process and consider it she knew that it was wrong and he had taken advantage of her.”

The woman described herself at that age as “another messed up child”.

Maynard made her feel secure, she said.

But she believes the abused has affected her relationships she has had since and has ruined her trust in others.

When Maynard was first interviewed about the allegations by police he denied being involved in relationships with the two girls.

He gave a detailed account, effectively denying the women’s claims. He told police he didn’t understand why the girls had said what they had because “nothing’s ever happened. “

He said: “I would never do that and anybody who knows me knows I would never do that.”

The 51-year-old, of Hatch Road, Stratton, admitted eight counts of indecent assault and indecency against a child.

He was sentenced to a total of four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.

Jailing him, Judge Crabtree said Maynard had groomed the teenagers, preparing each girl for sexual exploitation.

“You gained their trust by being friendly, inviting them round to share drink and drugs,” he said.

The judge stopped short of ruling Maynard to be a dangerous offender, which would have meant he’d have to serve at least two thirds of his prison sentence.

He acknowledged there was no evidence Maynard had committed offences against pubescent and teenage girls since 2002 and said he would be subject to a lengthy custodial sentence and stringent conditions.

Maynard will be subject to a 10 year sexual harm prevention order banning him from contact with teen girls under under the age of 16.

He was told he will be required to sign on to the sex offenders’ register for life.