DEREK NORTHROP OF WORTHING JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN IN HOVE

In June 2014, Derek Northrop, age 70, of Selden Road, Worthing, was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to a series of sexual offences against four children. He appeared at Hove Crown Court last Friday, where he pled guilty to eight charges. These included two counts of indecent assault on a girl aged five in 2003, two counts of indecent assault on another girl of similar age during the same period, two counts of gross indecency with a boy aged between 10 and 12 committed between 1977 and 1979, and two additional counts of gross indecency with a different boy of comparable age in 1982.

Detective Constable Carolyn Moore, from the West Sussex Child Protection Team, stated, “Northrop subjected his victims to sexual assaults without any consideration for their vulnerability or their well-being, having been in a position of trust.” She added, “Only when we received information from a third party in 2012 was it possible to bring Northrop to justice, and it is to the credit of the victims’ courage that they were willing to give evidence against him, although ultimately it was not necessary.” Moore emphasized, “This case exemplifies our commitment to thoroughly investigating and pursuing all such allegations, regardless of how much time has passed since the offences occurred.”