Derek Feast, 81, was found guilty of offending against four victims in Norfolk and Hertfordshire between 1974 and 1991.

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The court heard he had targeted three of his victims when he volunteered with the Scouts in Stevenage, where he also worked as a police officer during the 1970s and early 1980s, and a fourth victim when he worked in a newsagent’s shop in Norfolk in 1991.

One victim, who was aged 12 or 13 at the time, recalled being sexually assaulted on Scout trips, at Scout meetings and at Feast’s home address in Stevenage.

A second victim was aged 14 when he was sexually assaulted and a third victim was first sexually assaulted aged 15 on a trip and the abuse continued for several years.

His Norfolk victim was 14 when assaulted him when Feast was aged 46.

He reported the incident to police shortly afterwards and Feast was arrested but released with no further action in July 1991.

Derek Feast was sentenced after being found guilty at St Albans Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Now in his eighties, Feast was traced to the Isle of Mull in Scotland by police in July 2024 when allegations came to light prompting a fresh investigation.

He denied having any sexual contact with three of the boys and claimed he had been in a consensual sexual relationship with one victim.

He was convicted of 17 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on four victims at St Albans Crown Court and told he must serve half the sentence before being considered for release on licence.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Detective Constable Beverley Thomson, of Hertfordshire police, said: “Derek Feast denied any wrongdoing, but his evil acts have had lasting effects on his victims, but I do hope that seeing him sentenced will go some way in helping them to move on from his abhorrent crime.”

© Eastern Daily Press