A Hove man has been jailed for 16 years for raping and abusing boys by a judge at Hove Crown Court today (Thursday 7 January).
Judge David Rennie jailed Tim Douglass, 56, a caterer, of Upper Market Street, Hove.
Douglass and his partner David Long, 21, of the same address, were also sentenced for conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
Sussex Police said: “A man from West Sussex is starting a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of a series of sexual offences against teenage boys.
“Tim Douglass, 56, a caterer, now of Upper Market Street, Hove, but previously of addresses in Steyning and Houghton (in West Sussex), was sentenced to 16 years, plus a further four-year extended sentence on licence, when he appeared in custody at Hove Crown Court on Thursday 7 January.
“He will also be a registered sex offender for life.
“He had been convicted on (Monday) 30 November at the same court, after a trial, of 11 sexual offences against six boys and of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
“The offences were rape and sexual assault on a 17-year-old boy, rape of another 17-year-old boy, on his houseboat on the River Arun at Houghton in 2013, two counts of sexual activity with a boy aged between 14 and 15 between 2004 and 2006, two counts of sexual assault on another young boy between 2005 and 2008, two counts of sexual assault on another young boy between 2006 and 2008, and one count of sexual assault on another young boy between 2007 and 2009.
“The offences between 2004 and 2009 happened at an address at Shooting Fields in Steyning, where Douglass then lived, and other nearby locations.
“Those offences between 2004 and 2009 related to boys he met when he was a volunteer teaching music at the Cuthman Centre, a community facility in Steyning.
“He was also found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice along with his partner, David Long, 21, of the same address.
“This was in relation to them both agreeing to give false information to police of David Long’s whereabouts at the time of one of the rapes in 2013.
“Long also appeared in court (today) and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work.
“None of the offences took place in Hampshire, where Douglass formerly lived in Waterlooville.
“Douglass ran the Big Pan Paella Co, of Fort Rd, Littlehampton.
“Police emphasise that there are no current safeguarding issues for local young people.
“The 2004 to 2009 victims came forward during the investigation of the rapes, which began in 2013.”
Detective Constable Beccy Hopkins said: “In sentencing Douglass, Judge David Rennie described him as ‘predatory, manipulative and persistent’ – a description with which I fully agree.
“He systematically groomed his victims, some over considerable periods of time, without a concern for their age, vulnerability or for any distress caused to them.
“All the victims gave evidence in court and we admired the way in which they did so.
“Their evidence was key to the case and demonstrates again that we can help achieve justice for such victims, however long ago the offences occurred.”
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