Derbyshire: Paedophile jailed for 'campaign of rape' over years

Shane Davidson was sentenced at Derby Crown Court

A man who repeatedly sexually abused four girls and a boy has been jailed for 25 years.

Shane Davidson offended for more than a decade from the 1990s, with his victims suffering regular assaults over extended periods across Derbyshire.

The 42-year-old, of Barleyfield in Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty to 30 sexual offences, including rape.

During sentencing at Derby Crown Court, a judge described it as "an appalling catalogue of offending".

Davidson must also serve one year on licence, and is subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.

'Groomed and threatened'

The court heard how the offences were carried out in a variety of locations against vulnerable victims, with one child only five years old when they were first raped.

On some occasions, Davidson digitally penetrated the victims or forced them to perform oral sex on him.

The court heard the children were threatened if they refused to have sex with him, with one victim also forced to carry out abuse on another.

His victims were "groomed and threatened" into accepting, the court heard, with the defendant telling them they would not be believed if they reported it.

Some of Davidson's victims first reported his crimes in 2007, but the defendant denied committing any offences.

He was arrested and interviewed in 2022, where he reportedly called his victims "scum", before he later entered guilty pleas to all 30 counts.

Judge Martin Hurst, sentencing, said the case was "the worst case of its kind that I have seen", saying Davidson "threatened, bribed and degraded" his victims who were subjected to "a campaign of rape".

"For over 10 years you remorselessly satisfied your sexual appetite," he said.

"The impact on [the victims] has been profound."