A paedophile jailed for life for preying on young boys has been granted leave to appeal against his sentence, it was confirmed tonight.

David Cullen, 48, was ordered to serve a minimum of 10 years behind bars last November after admitting a string of sex offences against children.

A spokesman for the Court of Appeal said a date had not yet been set for the ex-football referee’s appeal.

Cullen, formerly of Blackbird Leys, Oxford, admitted 28 charges against children, including rape, indecent assault, sexual activity, grooming and distributing indecent images.