Rotherham man jailed over decade of child rapes and sexual abuse

Darren Thomas was jailed for 18 years and seven months for raping and sexually abusing several children

A man from Rotherham who raped and sexually abused several children for over a decade has been jailed.

Darren Thomas, 45, of no fixed abode, "repeatedly exploited the vulnerability of children" between 2010 and 2021, police said.

His victims were all aged between 11 and 17 years old, according to South Yorkshire Police.

On Tuesday at Sheffield Crown Court, Thomas was jailed for 18 years and seven months.

Police said Thomas had silenced his victims by telling them to keep his sexual abuse a secret and threatening he would lose his job if they told anyone.

He used alcohol to take advantage of his vulnerable victims and he forced them to perform sexual acts.

'Difficult process'

Two days prior to his arrest, Thomas sent a text message where he referred to himself as a "paedophile", police said.

On 5 September this year, he pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to two counts of rape of a person under 16, five counts of sexual assault, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of digital penetration.

As well as being jailed, Thomas was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order for life.

Det Con Caroline Anderson, from South Yorkshire Police, said it had proved to be a complex investigation, with evidence to uncover and review which spanned almost eight years.

She said: "It has undoubtedly been a long and difficult process for the victims and I want to commend their tremendous bravery in coming forward and providing statements and key evidence.

"I hope the result has brought the victims a certain level of closure, but nothing can eliminate their ordeal."