Man jailed for 15 years for child sex offences

Derek Johnson, 59, from Gloucestershire, admitted 16 sex offences relating to children aged between 13 and 16

A 59-year-old man has been jailed for 15 years for committing a number of sexual offences against children.

Derek Johnson from Gloucestershire had sent police on a manhunt, which led them on ferries and abroad.

Disturbing details were given in court about how Johnson had befriended his victims before recording his abuse on camera and boasting about it afterwards.

All three of his victims watched on in court, reliving the trauma of what they had been through.

Johnson admitted 16 sex offences relating to children aged between 13 and 16.

Gloucester Crown Court heard that victims had been left suicidal, had dropped out of school and failed to complete GCSEs.

One described how she could not even let her mother touch her as a result of what she had been through.

The judge said he feared there were many more victims.

Johnson committed his crimes across the UK. In one case, he took a victim to a remote woodland on Dartmoor in Devon.

The judge said Johnson had inflicted serious harm on his victims, causing considerable damage.

He said Johnson is not allowed to make contact with any of them.

He added that the courage of the victims had stopped anyone else from being harmed by him in the future.

Johnson will serve a minimum jail term of 10 years.