A cinematographer who worked on films including Russell Crowe's blockbuster Master and Commander has been jailed over historic sex offences.

Simon Akkerman, 63, was found guilty of grooming two boys before treating them like his "sexual objects" almost three decades ago.

The filmmaker befriended the boys and abused them on his couch and in his bedroom, the District Court of Western Australia heard.

He denied eight charges of indecent dealing with a child under 14, but a jury found him guilty of all counts after just a few hours of deliberation, The West Australian reported.

On Friday, Akkerman sobbed in the dock as he was sentenced to seven years jail with a non-parole period of five years.

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“You treated the victims as your sexual objects for the purpose of your own sexual gratification,” Judge Prior said.

“There was, in my view, significant grooming activity ... by you to the extent that the sexual activity between you and the two victims became normalised."

Akkerman’s jail term was backdated to October 25.