Nov 2002 Parents rap ‘lenient’ paedophile sentence Outraged parents today criticised the “lenient” sentencing of a paedophile convicted of gross indecency and indecent assault against young boys. Derek Gosling, 43, of Hastings Road, Southend, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to four charges of indecent assault and six of gross indecency relating to three boys, all under the age of 14. Now the parents of one of the boys, who was just ten when Gosling indecently assaulted him, have spoken out against the sentence which they feel is lenient. Gosling will be on licence for a further five years after his sentence and his name has been placed on the sex offenders’ register. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “We are not at all satisfied with this sentence. “I think he should be put away for life as he is no good to anybody and is a dangerous man.” The man also spoke of the ordeal he and his family have been through as a result of Gosling’s offences and the Southend trial. He said: “This has been a complete nightmare for all of us. My wife has had to have counselling, I have been off work with stress, anxiety and depression.”