A WORLD renowned conductor faces jail for sexually abusing two young boys.

Double Grammy Awards winner Joseph Cullen preyed on his victims while involved with choirs in Glasgow in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Cullen, 55, who conducted with the London Symphony Orchestra, was caught after one of his victims went to police in 2013 sparking a probe into the abuse.

It lead to Cullen admitting to two charges of using lewd and libidinous conduct when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.

The father-of-three's abuse spanned between 1976 and 1982.

The first boy was groomed shortly after joining a choir at St Aloysius Church in Glasgow.

The child was aged around eight when the attacks began.

Cullen met his second victim in the early 1980s while choirmaster at a singing group at the city's St Andrew's Cathedral.

Mr Borthwick told the court: "The boy would go to choir practice. The accused would drive him to and from there and would instigate excuses for the boy to be within his vehicle."

Cullen again "gained the trust and friendship" of this child's family. The boy was aged around 11 when first abused.

He was preyed upon at Cullen's at his home and in the changing area at the cathedral.

Cullen also attacked the boy in his car while driving him from school where he was also a music teacher.

It was only in 2007 when this victim, then in his late 30s, confronted Cullen after contacting him via his website.

During the conversation, Cullen asked the man: "If I can do anything, give you advice, help you...I'm here for you."

In 2013 the victim went police and the Archdiocese of Glasgow was also alerted.

It was around this time the first victim revealed to his family that he had been sexually abused.

Glasgow-born Cullen met with victim and his father at the family home.

Advocate depute Mr Borthwick said: "He admitted to manipulating, grooming and sexually abusing the victim."

These incidents were also investigated by police in early 2014 leading to Cullen being held at his home in Otley, West Yorkshire.

The court heard how the first victim has been left with mental scars and he felt guilt and shame that no amount of therapy would help.

The second victim eventually ended up homeless. The man's mother said in a statement: "He was a really talented boy. He changed from such a lovely boy into someone we did not know - and we did not know why."

Cullen, meanwhile, achieved fame as a director of the London Symphony Chorus winning two Grammy awards.

He has also worked in America, France, Italy, Ireland and conducted at Westminster Cathedral.

Cullen resigned from Huddersfield Choral Society after the allegations surfaced.

Judge Lord Turnbull deferred sentencing for reports and placed Cullen on the sex offenders register. His bail was continued.